The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life abundant and eternal.

Wages are what we get for what we do, when we choose to go against God's commands (even unknowingly), we reap the results of our actions. Sin is not a popular word in our politically correct culture, but even if we deny that this or that action is sin, we cannot escape the consequences. Oh we can blame it on others. That was in fact the second sin that followed the first. “Adam, did you eat of the fruit?” - 'The woman – You gave ...' i.e it was the woman's fault and actually God it was Your fault too, You are the one who gave her to me!'

The King James has it right “I curse the earth for your sake” (Genesis 3:17). That is different from 'because of you' in other translations. “For your sake” has behind it the provision and protection that flows from God's love. He wants us to know that when we break His law there are negative consequences (i.e. the Laws are given for our protection). We reap what we sow, and the wages of sin is death. The curse is designed to that the pain of the consequences will lead us back to Him, and to life, life in all its fulness and life for evermore (provision). This is God's gift, we don't deserve it, and we can't earn it. It is the good news of the Gospel. It's the only way to fly!