Genesis 19:15-28

15When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the 1punishment of the city.” 16But he hesitated. So the men 2grasped his hand and the hand of his wife and the 3hands of his two daughters, because 4the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out and put him outside the city. 17When they had brought them outside, 5one said, “6Escape for your life! 7Do not look behind you, and do not stay 8anywhere in the 9surrounding area; escape to 10the 11mountains, or you will be swept away.” 18But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! 19Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your compassion, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the 12mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) 13so that my life may be saved.” 21And he said to him, “Behold, I grant you this 14request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the town was named 1516Zoar.

23The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24Then the Lord 17rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven, 25and 18He overthrew those cities, and all the surrounding area, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26But 19Lot’s wife, from behind him, 20looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27Now Abraham got up early in the morning and went to 21the place where he had stood before the Lord; 28and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the surrounding area; and 22behold, he saw 23the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a 24furnace.