Yahweh Appears to Abraham

1Then Yahweh appeared to him by the [†]oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing nearby; he saw, and he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed himself to the earth, 3and he said, “[†]My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not [†]pass Your servant by. 4Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and [†]rest yourselves under the tree; 5and let me [†]bring a piece of bread, that you may [†]refresh your hearts; after that you may pass on, since in such a manner you have passed by your servant.” And they said, “So you shall do, as you have said.” 6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “[†]Hurry, prepare [†]three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes.” 7Abraham also ran to the herd and took a tender and [†]choice calf and gave it to his young man, and he hurried to prepare it. 8Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree, and they ate.

9Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10And He said, “I will surely return to you [†]at 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 Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past [†]childbearing. 12And Sarah laughed [†]to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed [†]bear a son, when I am so old?’ 14Is anything too [†]difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you, [†]at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15Then Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Yahweh and Abraham Speak About Sodom

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

22Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before Yahweh. 23Then Abraham came near and said, “Will 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 [†]spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25Far be it from You to do [†]such a thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?” 26So Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will [†]spare the whole place on their account.” 27And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have [†]ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust 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.” 29Then 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 [†]ventured 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, “Oh 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.” 33And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham, Yahweh departed, and Abraham returned to his place.