Genesis 18
1 Yahweh appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent doorway in the heat of the day.
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.
2 He looked up and, behold, he saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed low to the ground.
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,
3 He said, “Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, do not pass by and leave your servant.
and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant.
4 Let a little water be brought, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
Now let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5 Let me bring a little food, so that you may refresh yourselves. Afterwards you can go your way, since you have come to your servant.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”
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."
6 Then Abraham quickly went into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Hurry, get three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, get three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread."
7 Then Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf that was tender and good, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
Abraham ran to the herd, and took a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
8 He took curds and milk, and the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
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.
9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There, in the tent.”
They said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife? He said, "See, in the tent."
10 He said, “I will certainly return to you in the springtime, and see, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah was listening in the tent doorway, which was behind him.
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.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, very advanced in age, and Sarah had passed the age when women could bear children.
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah was past the age of childbearing.
12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying to herself, “After I am worn-out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my husband being old also?"
13 Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really bear a child, when I am old'?
And God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Will I really bear a child when I am old?'
14 Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the time appointed by me, in the spring, I will return to you. About this time next year Sarah will have a son.”
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."
15 Then Sarah denied it and said, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He replied, “No, you did laugh.”
But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
16 Then the men arose to leave and looked down toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17 But Yahweh said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
And God said, "Will I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
18 since Abraham will indeed become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
seeing that Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?
19 For I have chosen him so that he may instruct his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what he has said to him.”
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."
20 Then Yahweh said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and because their sin is so serious,
And God said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is so grievous,
21 I will now go down there and see the outcry against her that has come to me, whether they have really done it. If not, I will know.”
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."
22 So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before Yahweh.
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before God.
23 Then Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are there?
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?
25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, killing the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be treated the same as the wicked. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
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?"
26 Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
And God said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake."
27 Abraham answered and said, “Look, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord, even though I am only dust and ashes!
Abraham answered, "Look, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
28 What if there are five less than fifty righteous? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” Then he said, “I will not destroy it, if I find there forty-five.”
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."
29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the forty's sake.”
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."
30 He said, “Please do not be angry, Lord, so I may speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there.” He replied, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”
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."
31 He said, “Look, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord! Perhaps twenty will be found there.” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.”
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."
32 He said, “Please do not be angry, Lord, and I will speak this one last time. Perhaps ten will be found there.” Then he said, “I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.”
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."
33 Yahweh went on his way as soon as he had finished talking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.
When he finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned to his place.
