Genesis 18:10-33

10He said, “1I will surely return to you 2at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11Now 3Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was 4past 5childbearing. 12Sarah laughed 6to herself, saying, “7After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my 8lord being old also?” 13And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed 9bear a child, when I am so old?’ 1410Is anything too 11difficult for the Lord? At the 12appointed time I will return to you, 13at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16Then 14the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. 1715The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham 16what I am about to do, 18since Abraham will surely become a great and 17mighty nation, and in him 18all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19For I have 1920chosen him, so that he may 21command his children and his household after him to 22keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham 23what He has spoken about him.” 20And the Lord said, “24The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21I will 25go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

22Then 26the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before 27the Lord. 23Abraham came near and said, “28Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not 29spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from You to do 30such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not 31the Judge of all the earth 32deal justly?” 26So the Lord said, “33If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will 34spare the whole place on their account.” 27And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have 35ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but 36dust and ashes. 28Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29He 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.” 30Then 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.” 31And he said, “Now behold, I have 37ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” 32Then he said, “38Oh 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.” 33As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham 39the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place.