Genesis 18

1 And יהוה appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.

2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, 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, “Lord (Adonai), if now I have found favor in Your sight, please pass not away from Your servant.

4 Please let a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

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

6 And Avraham 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 Avraham 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 your wife?” And he said, “Behold, in the tent.”

10 And he said, “I will certainly return unto you according to the time of life; and, behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Avraham 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, 13dmy lord (adoni) being old also?”

13 And יהוה said unto Avraham, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?’

14 Is any thing too hard for יהוה? At the time appointed I will return unto you, 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 you didst laugh.”

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

17 And יהוה said, “Shall I hide from Avraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Avraham 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 יהוה, to do justice and judgment; that יהוה may bring upon Avraham that which He hath spoken of him.”

20 And יהוה 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 Avraham stood yet before יהוה.

23 And Avraham drew near, and said, “Wilt You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Suppose there be fifty righteous within the city; wilt You also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from You 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 You. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

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

27 And Avraham answered and said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto 12my Lord (Adonai), who am but dust and ashes:

28 Suppose there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt You 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, “Suppose 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 my Lord (Adonai) be angry, and I will speak: Suppose 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 my Lord (Adonai): Suppose 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 my Lord (Adonai) be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Suppose ten shall be found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.”

33 And יהוה went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Avraham; and Avraham returned unto his place.