Chapter 18
1Then AO appeared to [Abraham] by the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.
2And [Abraham] looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of this 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}.
4Let a little water be brought that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
5And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. After that you may continue on your way. This is why you have passed your servant’s way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”
6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it and bake some bread.”
7Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf and gave it to a servant who hurried to prepare it.
8Then 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.
10Then 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.
11And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12So [she] laughed to herself saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13And AO asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’
14Is anything too difficult for AO? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
15But Sarah was afraid so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied [the LORD], “but you did laugh.”
16When [the men] got up to leave, [they] looked out over Sodom and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.
17And AO said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18Abraham {will} surely become a great and powerful nation and through him all the nations of the earth {will} be blessed.
19For I have chosen him so that he will command his household and his children after him to keep the way of AO by doing what is right and just in order that AO may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
20Then AO said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,
21I will go down to see if their actions justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
22And [the two] men turned away and went toward Sodom but Abraham remained standing before AO.
23Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24What 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?
25Far 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?”
26So AO replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”
27Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to Adonai—though I am but dust and ashes—
28suppose 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].”
29Once again [Abraham] spoke to [the LORD], “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”
30Then [Abraham] said, “May Adonai 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.”
31And [Abraham] said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to Adonai, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy [it].”
32Finally, [Abraham] said, “May not Adonai 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].”
33When AO had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed and Abraham returned home.