18
Then {one day} Yahweh appeared {again} to Abraham at the oak trees on Mamre's land, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw that there were three men standing a short distance away. As soon as he saw them, he {jumped up and} hurried {to them} to greet them. Then he bowed {before them} {with his face} to the ground {to show respect}, 3 and he said {to them}, "Sirs, if you consider me worthy {to be your host}, please do not leave here without letting me serve you {as my guests}. 4 Please let me bring {you} some water, so that you can wash {the dust off} your feet, and then rest under {the shade of} this tree. 5 Since you are here with me, let me {also} bring some food {for you} {to eat}, so that you can regain your strength before you continue on your way." They replied {to him}, "That's good, do what you have proposed.” 6 Then Abraham hurried into his tent to Sarah and told her, "Quickly use three batches of our best flour, and bake {some} bread.” 7 Then he ran {outside} to his herd {of cattle} and chose one of his best calves that would be good to eat. Then he took it to one of his servants, and the servant quickly butchered it and cooked it. 8 Then Abraham brought {some} yogurt and milk and the meat that his servant had prepared, and he put it {all} before his {three} guests {to eat}. Then he stood nearby them {where they were sitting} under the tree {and served them} while they ate. 9 Then {one of} the men asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?” Abraham answered, "{She is} there in the tent.” 10 Then the man {who was actually Yahweh} said {to Abraham}, "I will definitely return {here} to visit you at this time next year, and when I do, your wife Sarah will have a {baby} son.” Now Sarah was listening inside the entrance of the tent which was behind the man. 11 She and Abraham were {already} very old, so that Sarah was {far} past the age that she could have children. 12 So she laughed to herself {in disbelief} and said {to herself}, "It doesn't seem possible that I could experience the pleasure {of having a child} now that I am too old {to conceive} and my husband is {also} old!” 13 But Yahweh asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh {to herself} and say that she is too old to have a child? 14 Nothing is too difficult for Yahweh {to do}! At the time that I have set, I will return to you {here}. {Yes, I will come} at this time next year, and Sarah will {already} have a son.” 15 {When Sarah heard what the man said,} she was afraid, so she lied {to him} and said, "I did not laugh.” But Yahweh replied, "That's not true. You did laugh.”16 {When they had finished eating,} the {three} men got up {to leave} and started walking down toward {the city of} Sodom. Abraham escorted them {for a while} to see them on their way. 17 Then Yahweh thought {to himself}, "Should I keep secret from Abraham what I am about to do {to the city of Sodom}? 18 After all, he {and his descendants} will definitely become a great and powerful people group, and through him I will bless all the people groups in the world. 19 In fact, I have chosen him so that he will train his children and his descendants, so that they will live the way I want them to live and do what is right and treat people justly. Therefore I will do for him everything I have promised him {that I will do}.” 20 Then Yahweh said {to Abraham}, "I have heard that {the people of} {the cities of} Sodom and Gomorrah have become very evil, and they are sinning very terribly. 21 So I must go down {to those cities} now and determine whether or not they are guilty of everything that I have heard against them. If {they are} not {guilty}, {then} I will know {it} {and I will not punish them}.” 22 Then the {other two} men left Yahweh and Abraham behind and continued walking toward {the city of} Sodom, while Abraham remained {there} with Yahweh. 23 Then Abraham stepped closer {to Yahweh} and asked {him}, "Certainly you will not destroy righteous people {along} with wicked people, will you? 24 What {will you do} if there are 50 righteous people in the city {of Sodom}? Will you really {still} destroy {all the people in} the city rather than let them all live because of the 50 righteous people who live there? 25 Certainly you would never do such a thing as kill righteous people together with evil people, so that you are treating them both the same way! Certainly you would never do such a thing! As the Judge over everyone on the earth, will you not treat people justly?” 26 Yahweh replied {to him}, "If I find 50 righteous {people} in the city of Sodom, then I will spare the whole city {and everyone who lives there} because of them.” 27 Then Abraham spoke up {again} and asked {Yahweh}, "My Lord, please excuse me for speaking to you so boldly, even though I am {as insignificant as} dirt and ashes {compared to you}. 28 {But} what {will you do} if there are only 45 righteous people {in the city} instead of 50? Will you destroy the whole city {and everyone in it} if there are five people too few {who are righteous}?” Yahweh answered, "I will not destroy the city, if I find 45 {righteous people living} there.” 29 Then Abraham spoke again to Yahweh and asked, "What {will you do} if you find {only} 40 {righteous people} in the city? {Will you destroy it then?}“ Yahweh answered, "I will not destroy {the city}, in order to save the 40 {righteous people}.” 30 Then Abraham pleaded {with him}, "My Lord, please do not be angry {with me}, but let me ask {you} {another question}: What {will you do} if you find {only} 30 {righteous people} {living} there?” He replied, "I will not destroy {the city}, if I find 30 {righteous people} there.” 31 Then Abraham asked {him}, "My Lord, please excuse me for speaking to you so boldly, {but} what {will you do} if you find {only} 20 {righteous people} {living} in the city?” Yahweh replied, "I will not destroy the city, in order to save the 20 {righteous people}.” 32 Then Abraham said, "My Lord, please do not be angry {with me}, but let me ask {you} just one more thing: What {will you do} if you find {only} ten {righteous people} in the city?" Yahweh answered {him}, "I will not destroy {the city}, in order to save the ten {righteous people}.” 33 When Yahweh had finished talking with Abraham, he left {him}, and Abraham returned home.