18Genesis 18

A Son Is Promised to Abraham

1The Lord appeared to Abraham at the sacred trees of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day,Select Genesis 18:1

2he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them. Bowing down with his face touching the ground,Select Genesis 18:2

3he said, “Sirs, please do not pass by my home without stopping; I am here to serve you.Select Genesis 18:3

4Let me bring some water for you to wash your feet; you can rest here beneath this tree.Select Genesis 18:4

5I will also bring a bit of food; it will give you strength to continue your journey. You have honored me by coming to my home, so let me serve you.” They replied, “Thank you; we accept.”Select Genesis 18:5

6Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread.”Select Genesis 18:6

7Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready.Select Genesis 18:7

8He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate.Select Genesis 18:8

9Then they asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” “She is there in the tent,” he answered.Select Genesis 18:9

10One of them said, “Nine months from now I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was behind him, at the door of the tent, listening.Select Genesis 18:10

11Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah had stopped having her monthly periods.Select Genesis 18:11

12So Sarah laughed to herself and said, “Now that I am old and worn out, can I still enjoy sex? And besides, my husband is old too.”Select Genesis 18:12

13Then the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really have a child when I am so old?’Select Genesis 18:13

14Is anything too hard for the Lord? As I said, nine months from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”Select Genesis 18:14

15Because Sarah was afraid, she denied it. “I didn't laugh,” she said. “Yes, you did,” he replied. “You laughed.”Select Genesis 18:15

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

16Then the men left and went to a place where they could look down at Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on their way.Select Genesis 18:16

17And the Lord said to himself, “I will not hide from Abraham what I am going to do.Select Genesis 18:17

18His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations.Select Genesis 18:18

19I have chosen him in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey me and to do what is right and just. If they do, I will do everything for him that I have promised.”Select Genesis 18:19

20Then the Lord said to Abraham, “There are terrible accusations against Sodom and Gomorrah, and their sin is very great.Select Genesis 18:20

21I must go down to find out whether or not the accusations which I have heard are true.”Select Genesis 18:21

22Then the two men left and went on toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.Select Genesis 18:22

23Abraham approached the Lord and asked, “Are you really going to destroy the innocent with the guilty?Select Genesis 18:23

24If there are fifty innocent people in the city, will you destroy the whole city? Won't you spare it in order to save the fifty?Select Genesis 18:24

25Surely you won't kill the innocent with the guilty. That's impossible! You can't do that. If you did, the innocent would be punished along with the guilty. That is impossible. The judge of all the earth has to act justly.”Select Genesis 18:25

26The Lord answered, “If I find fifty innocent people in Sodom, I will spare the whole city for their sake.”Select Genesis 18:26

27Abraham spoke again: “Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. I am only a man and have no right to say anything.Select Genesis 18:27

28But perhaps there will be only forty-five innocent people instead of fifty. Will you destroy the whole city because there are five too few?” The Lord answered, “I will not destroy the city if I find forty-five innocent people.”Select Genesis 18:28

29Abraham spoke again: “Perhaps there will be only forty.” He replied, “I will not destroy it if there are forty.”Select Genesis 18:29

30Abraham said, “Please don't be angry, Lord, but I must speak again. What if there are only thirty?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty.”Select Genesis 18:30

31Abraham said, “Please forgive my boldness in continuing to speak to you, Lord. Suppose that only twenty are found?” He said, “I will not destroy the city if I find twenty.”Select Genesis 18:31

32Abraham said, “Please don't be angry, Lord, and I will speak only once more. What if only ten are found?” He said, “I will not destroy it if there are ten.”Select Genesis 18:32

33After he had finished speaking with Abraham, the Lord went away, and Abraham returned home.Select Genesis 18:33