Genesis 18

1 And God appeared to him by the oak of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent at noon. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked — and there were three men standing before him. When he saw them, he ran from the door of his tent to meet them and bowed down to the ground, † 3 and said, “Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let water be brought to wash your feet, and cool yourselves under the tree, 5 and I will bring bread, and you shall eat. After that you may go on your way — for this is why you have turned aside to your servant.” And they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 So Abraham hurried to the tent, to Sarah, and said to her, “Quick — knead three measures of fine flour and make loaves baked in the ashes.” [a] 7 Then Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to his servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 And he took butter and milk and the calf he had prepared, and set it all before them. And they ate, while he stood by them under the tree. †

9 Then he said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he answered, “There — in the tent.” 10 And he said, “I will come back to you at this season, in due time, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the door of the tent, behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, far along in their days, and the monthly way of women had ceased for Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “It has not happened to me even until now — and my lord is old.” 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh to herself and say, ‘Will I then really bear a child? I have grown old.’ 14 Is anything impossible with God? At this season I will return to you, in due time, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh” — for she was afraid. And he said to her, “No — you did laugh.”

16 Then the men rose up from there and looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham went with them, seeing them on their way. 17 And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from my servant Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and numerous nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19 For I know that he will direct his sons, and his house after him, and they will keep the ways of the Lord — doing righteousness and judgment — so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham everything he has spoken to him.” 20 And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah has grown loud, and their sins are very great. 21 So I will go down and see whether their deeds fully match the outcry that has come to me — and if not, I will know.” 22 And the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord.

23 And Abraham drew near and said, “Would you destroy the righteous with the wicked — so that the righteous end up like the wicked? 24 If there are fifty righteous in the city, will you destroy them? Will you not spare the whole place for the sake of the fifty righteous, if they are in it? 25 Never — never would you do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked. Never! You who judge the whole earth — will you not do judgment?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 And Abraham answered, “Now that I have begun to speak to the Lord — I, who am earth and ashes — 28 what if the fifty righteous are five short? Will you destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” And he said, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” 29 And he spoke to him again: “But what if forty are found there?” And he said, “For the sake of the forty, I will not destroy it.” 30 And he said, “Lord, will it be held against me if I speak? What if thirty are found there?” And he said, “If I find thirty there, I will not destroy it.” 31 And he said, “Since I am able to speak to the Lord — what if twenty are found there?” And he said, “For the sake of the twenty, I will not destroy it.” 32 And he said, “Lord, will it be held against me if I speak just once more? What if ten are found there?” And he said, “For the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord departed when he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.