²⁹ Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.

⁴ Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

¹² We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. ¹³ So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] if the world hates you.

¹⁴ If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers,^[b] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates another brother or sister^[c] is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

¹⁹ You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.^[a] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

⁵³ So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.

¹⁵ When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.

¹² Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.

⁴ Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, ⁵ but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

⁶ “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? ⁷ You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

⁸ One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.”^[a] And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.