Genesis 18

1 Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.

2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.

4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.

5 And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”

7 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

8 Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.

10 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.

11 And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

12 So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’

14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

15 But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

16 When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.

17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

21 I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

22 And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

23 Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?

25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

26 So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”

27 Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

28 suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

29 Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

30 Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

31 And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32 Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.

1 ¶ And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth.

7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave [it] unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

9 ¶ And they said unto him, Where [is] Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard [it] in the tent door, which [was] behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah [were] old [and] well stricken in age; [and] it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

16 ¶ And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23 ¶ And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which [am but] dust and ashes:

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for [lack of] five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy [it].

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do [it] for forty's sake.

30 And he said [unto him], Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do [it], if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for twenty's sake.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.

33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the grove of Mamre, sitting at the door of his tent, when the day was hottest.

2 And when he lifted up his eyes, and looked, behold, three men stood against him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the door of his tabernacle, and stooped down to the ground.

3 And said, Lord, if I have found grace in thine eyes, pass not over before thy servant.

4 And they shall bring you a little water, and wash your feet; and lean ye under the tree.

5 And I will bring you a morsel of bread, and ye shall refresh your hearts; and afterward ye shall depart. For therefore came ye to your servant. They said: Do as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hasted into the tabernacle unto Sarah, and said, Make haste, and mix three measures of fine flour, and knead, and bake cakes.

7 And he ran unto the oxen, and fetched a goodly calf, and gave it to the lad, and he made haste, and prepared it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and of the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them, and stood before them under the tree, and they did eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Within the tabernacle.

10 And he said, I will come again unto thee, if I live: behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it behind him, behind the door of the tabernacle.

11 And they were both Abraham and Sarah old and well stricken in years; so that Sarah was no more after the manner of women.

12 Therefore she laughed with herself, and said, Now that I am old, shall I yet cherish lust, and my lord also is old?

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Why laughed Sarah, saying, Thinkest thou that I shall yet bear, when I am old?

14 Is there any thing impossible to the LORD? At this time will I come again unto thee, and if I live, Sarah shall have a son.

15 And Sarah denied it, and said: I laughed not: for she was afraid. And he said, It is not so; thou hast laughed.

16 And the men arose from thence, and turned toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to lead them.

17 And the LORD said, How can I hide from Abraham what I do?

18 Because he shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know that he will command his children, and his household after him, to keep the way of the LORD, and to do that which is right and good: that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath promised him.

20 And the LORD said, There is a cry in Sodom and Gomorrha, which is great, and their sins are almost grievous.

21 Therefore will I go down, and see whether they have done all according to the cry that is come before me; or whether it be not so, that I may know.

22 And the men turned their faces, and went to Sodom: but Abraham stood still before the LORD.

23 And stood by him, and said, Wilt thou then kill the righteous with the wicked?

24 There may be fifty righteous men in the city: wilt thou destroy them, and not forgive the place, because of fifty righteous men that are therein?

25 Far be it from thee, that thou shouldest do this thing, and kill the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the wicked: far be it from thee, that judgest all the earth. Thou wilt not judge thus.

26 And the LORD said, If I find fifty righteous men in the city of Sodom, then I will forgive all the places for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Ah, behold, I have made myself to speak unto the LORD, though I be earth and ashes.

28 There might be five less than fifty righteous within: wilt thou then destroy the whole city for the sake of the five? And he said, If I find forty and five within, I will not destroy them.

29 And he continued to speak unto him, saying, There may be found forty within. And he said: I will not hurt them because of the forty.

30 And Abraham said, Be not angry, O LORD, that I speak any more. There may be found thirty in it. And he said, If I find thirty within, I will not hurt them.

31 And he said, Behold, I have refrained from speaking with the LORD. One might like to find twenty within. And he answered: I will not destroy them for the sake of twenty.

32 And he said, Be not angry, O Lord, that I speak but once more. There may be ten in it. And he said: I will not destroy them for the sake of the ten.

33 And the LORD departed after he had talked with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.