First ReadingGenesis 4:1-15, 25*
From the Book of Genesis
1The man knew Eve his wife.She conceived, and gave birth to Cain,and said, “I have gotten a man with the Lord’s help.”2Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel.Abel was a keeper of sheep,but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3As time passed, Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground.4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat.The Lord respected Abel and his offering,5but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering.Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.6The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?Why has the expression of your face fallen?7If you do well, won’t it be lifted up?If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door.Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”8Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.”While they were in the field,Cain rose up against Abel,his brother, and killed him.
9The Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?”
He said, “I don’t know.Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10The Lord said, “What have you done?The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.11Now you are cursed because of the ground,which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.12From now on, when you till the ground,it won’t yield its strength to you.You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
13Cain said to the Lord,“My punishment is greater than I can bear.14Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground.I will be hidden from your face,and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.Whoever finds me will kill me.”
15The Lord said to him,“Therefore whoever slays Cain,vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.”The Lord appointed a sign for Cain,so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
verses 16–24 are not read25Adam knew his wife again.She gave birth to a son,and named him Seth,saying, “for God has given me another child instead of Abel,for Cain killed him.”