Genesis 3:21-4:7

New International Version

²¹The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.^(A) ²²And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us,^(B) knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life^(C) and eat, and live forever.” ²³So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden^(D) to work the ground^(E) from which he had been taken. ²⁴After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side^[a] of the Garden of Eden^(F) cherubim^(G) and a flaming sword^(H) flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.^(I)

Cain and Abel

4 Adam^[b] made love to his wife^(J) Eve,^(K) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.^[c]^(L) She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth^[d] a man.” ²Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.^(M)

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.^(N) ³In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering^(O) to the Lord.^(P) ⁴And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions^(Q) from some of the firstborn of his flock.^(R) The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,^(S) ⁵but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

⁶Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?^(T) Why is your face downcast? ⁷If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;^(U) it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.^(V)”

Footnotes

Genesis 3:24 Or placed in front
Genesis 4:1 Or The man
Genesis 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought forth or acquired.
Genesis 4:1 Or have acquired

Proverbs 3:34-4:22

New International Version

³⁴He mocks^(A) proud mockers^(B)
but shows favor to the humble^(C) and oppressed.
³⁵The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4 Listen, my sons,^(D) to a father’s instruction;^(E)
    pay attention and gain understanding.^(F)
²I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold^(G) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.^(H)
⁵Get wisdom,^(I) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(J)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(K)
⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(L) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(M)
⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(N)
⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(O)”

¹⁰Listen, my son,^(P) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(Q)
¹¹I instruct^(R) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(S)
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(T)
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(U)
¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.^(V)
¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(W)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(X)

¹⁸The path of the righteous^(Y) is like the morning sun,^(Z)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(AA)
¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(AB)
they do not know what makes them stumble.^(AC)

²⁰My son,^(AD) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.^(AE)
²¹Do not let them out of your sight,^(AF)
    keep them within your heart;
²²for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.^(AG)