The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

For it is written thus:—And it came to pass[*](Examples of jealousy. Cain and Abel) after certain days that Cain offered to God a sacrifice of the fruits of the earth, and Abel himself also offered of the first-born of the sheep and of their fat.

And God looked on Abel and his gifts, but he had no respect to Cain and his sacrifices.

And Cain was greatly grieved and his countenance fell.

And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou offeredst rightly, but didst not divide rightly, didst thou not sin?[*](This is unintelligible, and does not agree with the Hebrew, which is also unintelligible. It is dealt with at length in all commentaries on Genesis.)

Be still: he shall turn to thee, and thou shalt rule over him.

And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go unto the plain. And it came to pass that, while they were in the plain, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.

You see, brethren,—jealousy and envy wrought fratricide.

Through jealousy our father Jacob ran from the[*](Jacob and Esau) face of Esau his brother.

Jealousy made Joseph[*](Joseph) to be persecuted to the death, and come into slavery.

Jealousy forced Moses to fly from the face of[*](Moses) Pharaoh, King of Egypt, when his fellow countryman

Through[*](Aaron and Miriam) jealousy Aaron and Miriam were lodged outside the camp.

Jealousy brought down Dathan and[*](Dathan and Abiram) Abiram alive into Hades, because they rebelled against Moses the servant of God.

Through jealousy David incurred envy not only from[*](David) strangers, but suffered persecution even from Saul, King of Israel.