Irenaeus of Lyons · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Concerning Cain, who killed his brother. Just as Cain, when he had received counsel from God to be at peace concerning the fact that he had not rightly divided the offering that concerned his brother's fellowship, but instead, out of envy and malice, suspected that he might be able to dominate him — he not only did not comply, but added sin upon sin, revealing his own character through his action. For what he had thought, this he also did: he dominated his brother and killed him, God subjecting the just man to the unjust one, so that the just man might be shown just by what he suffered, while the other, through what he had committed, might be exposed as unjust. And not even then was he softened, nor did he cease from the evil deed; yet when questioned as to his brother's whereabouts, he answered: I do not know -- am I my brother's guardian? — extending and multiplying the evil by his answer. For if it is evil to kill one's brother, it is much worse to answer thus boldly and irreverently to God, who knows all things, as though it were possible to deceive him. For this reason he too bore a curse, since he brought sin upon himself, having no reverence for God, and feeling no shame at his fratricide.