Genesis 18:17-23

17Then the Lord said to himself, ‘I should tell Abraham what I have decided to do.

18Abraham's descendants will become a great nation of people. They will be very powerful. Through him, I will bless all the nations of the earth.

19I have chosen him so that he will teach my message to his children and their families. He will teach them to do what is right and what is fair. Then I, the Lord, will do for Abraham everything that I have promised to him.’

20So the Lord said to Abraham, ‘I have heard how bad the people in Sodom and Gomorrah are. Everybody says that their sins are very bad.

21So I must go down there to see if it is really true. I will see if those people are as bad as everybody says they are. Then I will know what is true.’

22The other two men then turned away and they went towards Sodom. But Abraham stayed there to talk with the Lord.

23Then Abraham went near to the Lord and he asked, ‘Will you destroy the good people as well as the bad people?