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Cain and Abel are the sons of Adam and Eve, the first man
and woman, in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Genesis (RSV) Chapter 4
1: Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and
bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of
the LORD."
2: And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was
a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
3: In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering
of the fruit of the ground,
4: and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and
of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his
offering,
5: but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So
Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6: The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and
why has your countenance fallen?
7: If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you
do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for
you, but you must master it."
8: Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go out
to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose
up against his brother Abel, and killed him.
9: Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your
brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's
keeper?"
10: And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice
of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
11: And now you are cursed from the ground, which has
opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12: When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield
to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on
the earth."
13: Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater
than I can bear.
14: Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the
ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a
fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will
slay me."
15: Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If any one
slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold."
And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should
kill him.
16: Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD,
and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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