Genesis 18
1 And God appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance to the tent in the heat of the day.
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 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the entrance of the tent, and bowed himself to the earth,
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 and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant.
“My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.
4 Now let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
5 I will get a bit of food so you may refresh yourselves. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant." They said, "Very well, do as you have said."
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 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, get three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread."
So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8 He took curds, milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
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 They said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife? He said, "See, in the tent."
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
10 Then he said, "I will certainly return to you at the time of life. Look, Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah heard from the entrance of the tent, which was behind him.
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 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah was past the age of childbearing.
And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12 Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my husband being old also?"
So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 And God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Will I really bear a child when I am old?'
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 God? At the set time I will return to you, at the time of life, and Sarah will have a son."
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 denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”
16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.
17 And God said, "Will I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18 seeing that Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?
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 made myself known to him, so that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of God, to do righteousness and justice, so that God may bring to Abraham that which he has spoken to him."
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 And God said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is so grievous,
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done entirely according to the outcry which has come to me. And if not, I will know."
I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before God.
And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
23 Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you sweep it away and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
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 Be it 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?"
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 And God said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake."
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 Abraham answered, "Look, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—
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."
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 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."
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 He said, "Oh do not 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."
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 He said, "Look, 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."
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 He said, "Oh do not 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."
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 he finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned to his place.
When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.
