Genesis 18:17-23

17The Lord said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do,

18since Abraham is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?

19For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.”

20And the Lord said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

21I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”

22Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.

23Abraham approached [the Lord] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)?