Genesis 18:1 ←
Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
Genesis 18:2 ←
He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
Genesis 18:3 ←
and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
Genesis 18:4 ←
Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Genesis 18:5 ←
I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”
Genesis 18:6 ←
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
Genesis 18:7 ←
Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
Genesis 18:8 ←
He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
Genesis 18:9 ←
They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”
Genesis 18:10 ←
He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
Genesis 18:11 ←
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
Genesis 18:12 ←
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
Genesis 18:13 ←
Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
Genesis 18:14 ←
Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
Genesis 18:15 ←
Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Genesis 18:16 ←
The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
Genesis 18:17 ←
Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
Genesis 18:18 ←
since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
Genesis 18:19 ←
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
Genesis 18:20 ←
Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
Genesis 18:21 ←
I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
Genesis 18:22 ←
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.
Genesis 18:23 ←
Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
Genesis 18:24 ←
What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
Genesis 18:25 ←
May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Genesis 18:26 ←
Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Genesis 18:27 ←
Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
Genesis 18:28 ←
What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
Genesis 18:29 ←
He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
Genesis 18:30 ←
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
Genesis 18:31 ←
He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
Genesis 18:32 ←
He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
Genesis 18:33 ←
Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
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