Genesis 18
Three Special Visitors
18:1 The
18:3 He said, “My lord,12 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant.13 18:4 Let a little water be brought so that14 you may all15 wash your feet and rest under the tree. 18:5 And let me get16 a bit of food17 so that you may refresh yourselves18 since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.”19 “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”
18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take20 three measures21 of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”22 18:7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant,23 who quickly prepared it.24 18:8 Abraham25 then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food26 before them. They ate while27 he was standing near them under a tree.
18:9 Then they asked him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There,28 in the tent.” 18:10 One of them29 said, “I will surely return30 to you when the season comes round again,31 and your wife Sarah will have a son!”32 (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him.33 18:11 Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years;34 Sarah had long since passed menopause.)35 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking,36 “After I am worn out will I have pleasure,37 especially when my husband is old too?”38
18:13 The
Abraham Pleads for Sodom
18:16 When the men got up to leave,44 they looked out over45 Sodom. (Now46 Abraham was walking with them to see them on their way.)47
18:17 Then the
18:20 So the
18:22 The two men turned62 and headed63 toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the
18:26 So the
18:27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord68 (although I am but dust and ashes),69 18:28 what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy70 the whole city because five are lacking?”71 He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
18:29 Abraham72 spoke to him again,73 “What if forty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”
18:30 Then Abraham74 said, “May the Lord not be angry75 so that I may speak!76 What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
18:31 Abraham77 said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
18:32 Finally Abraham78 said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
18:33 The