Gen18:1 Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.
Gen18:2 And when he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw [them], he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth,
Gen18:3 and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.
Gen18:4 "Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;
Gen18:5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said."
Gen18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead [it], and make bread cakes."
Gen18:7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf, and gave [it] to the servant; and he hurried to prepare it.
Gen18:8 And he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed [it] before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.
Gen18:9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "Behold, in the tent."
Gen18:10 And he said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.
Gen18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.
Gen18:12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"
Gen18:13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear [a child], when I am [so] old?'
Gen18:14 "Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."
Gen18:15 Sarah denied [it] however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."
Gen18:16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.
Gen18:17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
Gen18:18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
Gen18:19 "For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
Gen18:20 And the LORD said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
Gen18:21 "I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
Gen18:22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD.
Gen18:23 And Abraham came near and said, "Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Gen18:24 "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep [it] away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?
Gen18:25 "Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are [treated] alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?"
Gen18:26 So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account."
Gen18:27 And Abraham answered and said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am [but] dust and ashes.
Gen18:28 "Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, wilt Thou destroy the whole city because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy [it] if I find forty-five there."
Gen18:29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose forty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do [it] on account of the forty."
Gen18:30 Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?" And He said, "I will not do [it] if I find thirty there."
Gen18:31 And he said, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy [it] on account of the twenty."
Gen18:32 Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy [it] on account of the ten."
Gen18:33 And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed; and Abraham returned to his place.