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.
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 near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, 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 don’t go away from 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 fetched, 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 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.”
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 prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
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 fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress 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 butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, 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 asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
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.
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 had passed 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 lord 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 Yahweh 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 hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, 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 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t 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 Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in 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 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.”
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 Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very 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 their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. 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 stood yet before Yahweh.
And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
23 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume 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 consume 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 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?”
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 Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole 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, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am 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 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.”
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, “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.”
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 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.”
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 Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.
