18Genesis 18

1Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.Select Genesis 18:1

2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,Select Genesis 18:2

3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.Select Genesis 18:3

4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.Select Genesis 18:4

5I will get a morsel 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.”Select Genesis 18:5

6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”Select Genesis 18:6

7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.Select Genesis 18:7

8He 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.Select Genesis 18:8

9They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “See, in the tent.”Select Genesis 18:9

10He said, “I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.Select Genesis 18:10

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.Select Genesis 18:11

12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”Select Genesis 18:12

13Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’Select Genesis 18:13

14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”Select Genesis 18:14

15Then Sarah denied, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”Select Genesis 18:15

16The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.Select Genesis 18:16

17Yahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,Select Genesis 18:17

18since Abraham has surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?Select Genesis 18:18

19For 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.”Select Genesis 18:19

20Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,Select Genesis 18:20

21I 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.”Select Genesis 18:21

22The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.Select Genesis 18:22

23Abraham drew near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?Select Genesis 18:23

24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?Select Genesis 18:24

25Be it 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?”Select Genesis 18:25

26Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.”Select Genesis 18:26

27Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.Select Genesis 18:27

28What 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.”Select Genesis 18:28

29He 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.”Select Genesis 18:29

30He 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.”Select Genesis 18:30

31He 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.”Select Genesis 18:31

32He 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.”Select Genesis 18:32

33Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.Select Genesis 18:33