Genesis 4:8-15 (Vespers, 1st reading)
- 8
- Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother 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 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
- 11
- So now you are cursed from the earth, 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 its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”
- 13
- And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!
- 14
- Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”
- 15
- And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.