King James Bible
"And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear."
Cain directly addresses God after receiving his sentence for murdering Abel, showing he still recognizes divine authority despite his rebellion. This marks a shift from his earlier defiant question 'Am I my brother's keeper?' to a more desperate plea. The Hebrew word can mean both 'punishment' and 'iniquity,' suggesting Cain may be overwhelmed by either the weight of his sin or its consequences. His cry reveals the first recorded human experience of despair under divine judgment, as he faces exile from God's presence and the fertile ground.