Gen 18
1
And the LORD appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door
in the heat of the day;
2
and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and
when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth,
3
and said: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray
thee, from thy servant.
4
Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under
the tree.
5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass
on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast
said.'
6
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three
measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'
7
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto
the servant; and he hastened to dress it.
8
And he took curd, 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 thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, in the tent.'
10
And He said: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and,
lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was
behind him.--
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with
Sarah after the manner of women.--
12
And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure,
my lord being old also?'
13
And the LORD said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety
bear a child, who am old?
14
Is any thing too hard for the LORD. At the set time I will return unto thee, when
the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.'
15
Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay;
but thou didst laugh.'
16
And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with
them to bring them on the way.
17
And the LORD said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;
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seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed in him?
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For 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 the LORD, to do righteousness and justice;
to the end that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.'
20
And the LORD said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their
sin is exceeding grievous.
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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 from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before
the LORD.
23
And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the
wicked?
24
Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away
and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25
That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked,
that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee; shall not the
judge of all the earth do justly?'
26
And the LORD said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will
forgive all the place for their sake.'
27
And Abraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the
Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
28
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the
city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty
and five.'
29
And he spoke unto Him yet again, and said: 'Peradventure there shall be forty found
there.' And He said: 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'
30
And he said: 'Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Peradventure 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 the Lord. Peradventure
there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's
sake.'
32
And he said: 'Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure
ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'
33
And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham
returned unto his place.