Genesis 18:17-33

171The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham 2what I am about to do, 18since Abraham will certainly become a great and 3mighty nation, and in him 4all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19For I have 56chosen him, so that he may 7command his children and his household after him to 8keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham 9what He has spoken about him.” 20And the Lord said, “10The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21I will 11go down now and see whether they have done entirely as the outcry, which has come to Me indicates; and if not, I will know.”

22Then 12the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before 13the Lord. 23Abraham approached and said, “14Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not 15spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from You to do 16such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not 17the Judge of all the earth 18deal justly?” 26So the Lord said, “19If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will 20spare the entire place on their account.” 27And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have 21ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am only 22dust and ashes. 28Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the entire city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29And 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.” 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 23ventured 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, “24Oh 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 25the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place.