1 Clement 4:1-15

¹For thus it is written: "And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof.

²And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard.

³And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell.

⁴And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is try countenance fallen?

⁵If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned?

⁶Be at peace: thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it.

⁷And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field.

⁸And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

⁹Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother.

¹⁰Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother.

¹¹Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage.

¹²Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman, "Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?"

¹³On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp.

¹⁴Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they excited against God's servant Moses.

¹⁵Through envy, David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel.