New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

1And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

2So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth

3and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.

3and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

4Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,

5And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”

5while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.”

6And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.”

7And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.

7And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.

8So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.”

9They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”

10And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)

10The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”

13And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’

13The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

14Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

14Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

15But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

15But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way.

16Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.

17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,

17The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

18since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

18seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

19For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

20And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

20Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,

21I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

21I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

22Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.

22So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.

23And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

23Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?

24Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

25Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

26So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

26And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:

27Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

28Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack 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 there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

29Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”

30Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

30Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”

31And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

31He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.”

32Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”

32Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

33So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

33And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.