The Three Visitors

1  וַיֵּרָ֤א (And appeared) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י (by the Oaks) מַמְרֵ֑א (of Mamre), וְה֛וּא (and he) יֹשֵׁ֥ב (was sitting) פֶּֽתַח־ (in the entrance) הָאֹ֖הֶל (of the tent) כְּחֹ֥ם (in the heat) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (of the day). 2  וַיִּשָּׂ֤א (And he lifted up) עֵינָיו֙ (his eyes) וַיַּ֔רְא (and looked), וְהִנֵּה֙ (and behold), שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (three) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men) נִצָּבִ֖ים (were standing) עָלָ֑יו (by him). וַיַּ֗רְא (And he saw them) וַיָּ֤רָץ (and he ran) לִקְרָאתָם֙ (to meet them) מִפֶּ֣תַח (from the entrance) הָאֹ֔הֶל (of the tent), וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (and he bowed himself) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the earth).

3  וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (And he said), אֲדֹנָ֗י (My lord), אִם־ (if) נָ֨א (now) מָצָ֤אתִי (I have found) חֵן֙ (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (in your eyes), אַל־ (not), נָ֥א (please), תַעֲבֹ֖ר (do pass on) מֵעַ֥ל (by) עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (Your servant). 4  יֻקַּֽח־ (Let be brought), נָ֣א (please), מְעַט־ (a little) מַ֔יִם (water), וְרַחֲצ֖וּ (and wash) רַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ feet) וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ (and rest yourselves) תַּ֥חַת (under) הָעֵֽץ׃ (the tree). 5  וְאֶקְחָ֨ה (And I will bring) פַת־ (a morsel) לֶ֜חֶם (of bread), וְסַעֲד֤וּ (that you may refresh) לִבְּכֶם֙ (your⁺ hearts); אַחַ֣ר (afterward) תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּ (you⁺ may pass on), כִּֽי־ (for) עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֥ן (thus) עֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ have come) עַֽל־ (to) עַבְדְּכֶ֑ם (your⁺ servant).

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), כֵּ֥ן (Yes) תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (you may do), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃ (you have said).

6  וַיְמַהֵ֧ר (And hurried) אַבְרָהָ֛ם (Abraham) הָאֹ֖הֱלָה (into the tent) אֶל־ (to) שָׂרָ֑ה (Sarah) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), מַהֲרִ֞י (Quickly take) שְׁלֹ֤שׁ (three) סְאִים֙ (seahs) קֶ֣מַח (of meal) סֹ֔לֶת (fine), ל֖וּשִׁי (knead it), וַעֲשִׂ֥י (and make) עֻגֽוֹת׃ (cakes).

7  וְאֶל־ (And to) הַבָּקָ֖ר (the herd) רָ֣ץ (ran) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham), וַיִּקַּ֨ח (and he took) בֶּן־ (a son) בָּקָ֜ר (of the herd) רַ֤ךְ (tender) וָטוֹב֙ (and good), וַיִּתֵּ֣ן (and gave it) אֶל־ (to) הַנַּ֔עַר (the young man); וַיְמַהֵ֖ר (and he hurried) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to prepare) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (it). 8  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And he took) חֶמְאָ֜ה (butter), וְחָלָ֗ב (and milk), וּבֶן־ (and son) הַבָּקָר֙ (of the herd) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשָׂ֔ה (he had prepared), וַיִּתֵּ֖ן (and he set it) לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם (before them), וְהֽוּא־ (and he) עֹמֵ֧ד (stood) עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם (by them) תַּ֥חַת (under) הָעֵ֖ץ (the tree), וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ (and they ate).

Sarah Laughs at the Promise

9  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said) אֵׄלָׄ֔יׄוׄ (to him), אַיֵּ֖ה (Where is) שָׂרָ֣ה (Sarah) אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ (your wife)?

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), בָאֹֽהֶל׃ (in the tent).

10  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And He said), שׁ֣וֹב (Returning) אָשׁ֤וּב (I will return) אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (to you) כָּעֵ֣ת (according to the time) חַיָּ֔ה (of life); וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold), בֵ֖ן (a son) לְשָׂרָ֣ה (to Sarah) אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ (your wife).

וְשָׂרָ֥ה (And Sarah) שֹׁמַ֛עַת (was listening) פֶּ֥תַח (at the entrance) הָאֹ֖הֶל (to the tent), וְה֥וּא (and it was) אַחֲרָֽיו׃ (behind him). 11  וְאַבְרָהָ֤ם (And Abraham) וְשָׂרָה֙ (and Sarah) זְקֵנִ֔ים (were old), בָּאִ֖ים (well advanced) בַּיָּמִ֑ים (in years); חָדַל֙ (it had ceased) לִהְי֣וֹת (to be) לְשָׂרָ֔ה (for Sarah) אֹ֖רַח (the way) כַּנָּשִֽׁים׃ (of women). 12  וַתִּצְחַ֥ק (And laughed) שָׂרָ֖ה (Sarah) בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ (within herself), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), אַחֲרֵ֤י (After) בְלֹתִי֙ (I am worn out), הָֽיְתָה־ (shall there be) לִּ֣י (to me) עֶדְנָ֔ה (pleasure)— וַֽאדֹנִ֖י (and my lord) זָקֵֽן׃ (is old).

13  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham), לָ֣מָּה (Why) זֶּה֩ (this one) צָחֲקָ֨ה (did laugh) שָׂרָ֜ה (Sarah), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), הַאַ֥ף (Shall) אֻמְנָ֛ם (truly) אֵלֵ֖ד (I bear a child) וַאֲנִ֥י (when I) זָקַֽנְתִּי׃ (am old)? 14  הֲיִפָּלֵ֥א (Is too difficult) מֵיְהוָ֖ה (for YHWH) דָּבָ֑ר (is any word)? לַמּוֹעֵ֞ד (At the appointed time) אָשׁ֥וּב (I will return) אֵלֶ֛יךָ (to you), כָּעֵ֥ת (according to the time) חַיָּ֖ה (of life), וּלְשָׂרָ֥ה (and unto Sarah will be) בֵֽן׃ (a son).

15  וַתְּכַחֵ֨שׁ (And denied it) שָׂרָ֧ה׀ (Sarah), לֵאמֹ֛ר (saying) לֹ֥א (Not) צָחַ֖קְתִּי (I did laugh), כִּ֣י׀ (for) יָרֵ֑אָה (she was afraid).

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר׀ (And He said), לֹ֖א (No), כִּ֥י (but) צָחָֽקְתְּ׃ (you did laugh).

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16  וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ (And rose) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men), וַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ (and looked) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) סְדֹ֑ם (of Sodom); וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם (and Abraham) הֹלֵ֥ךְ (walked) עִמָּ֖ם (with them) לְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃ (to send them off).

17  וַֽיהֹוָ֖ה (And YHWH) אָמָ֑ר (said), הַֽמְכַסֶּ֤ה (Shall hide) אֲנִי֙ (I) מֵֽאַבְרָהָ֔ם (from Abraham) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (what) אֲנִ֥י (I) עֹשֶֽׂה׃ (am doing)? 18  וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם (And Abraham) הָי֧וֹ (being) יִֽהְיֶ֛ה (he will become) לְג֥וֹי (a nation) גָּד֖וֹל (great) וְעָצ֑וּם (and mighty), וְנִ֨בְרְכוּ (and shall be blessed) ב֔וֹ (in him) כֹּ֖ל (all) גּוֹיֵ֥י (the nations) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth). 19  כִּ֣י (For) יְדַעְתִּ֗יו (I have known him) לְמַעַן֩ (in order) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יְצַוֶּ֜ה (he may command) אֶת־ (-) בָּנָ֤יו (his children) וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּיתוֹ֙ (his house) אַחֲרָ֔יו (after him), וְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ (that they keep) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (by doing) צְדָקָ֖ה (what is right) וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט (and just), לְמַ֗עַן (that) הָבִ֤יא (may bring) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עַל־ (to) אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Abraham) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) דִּבֶּ֖ר (He has spoken) עָלָֽיו׃ (to him).

20  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), זַעֲקַ֛ת (The outcry against) סְדֹ֥ם (Sodom) וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה (and Gomorrah) כִּי־ (because) רָ֑בָּה (is great), וְחַ֨טָּאתָ֔ם (and their sin) כִּ֥י (because) כָבְדָ֖ה (is grievous) מְאֹֽד׃ (very); 21  אֵֽרֲדָה־ (I will go down) נָּ֣א (now) וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה (and see) הַכְּצַעֲקָתָ֛הּ (whether the outcry against it) הַבָּ֥אָה (that has come) אֵלַ֖י (to Me), עָשׂ֣וּ׀ (they have done) כָּלָ֑ה (completely); וְאִם־ (and if) לֹ֖א (not), אֵדָֽעָה׃ (I will know).

22  וַיִּפְנ֤וּ (And turned away) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and went) סְדֹ֑מָה (toward Sodom); וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם (and Abraham) עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ (still) עֹמֵ֖ד (stood) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

23  וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ (And came near) אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Abraham) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), הַאַ֣ף (Would also) תִּסְפֶּ֔ה (You destroy) צַדִּ֖יק (the righteous) עִם־ (with) רָשָֽׁע׃ (the wicked)? 24  אוּלַ֥י (Suppose) יֵ֛שׁ (there are) חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים (fifty) צַדִּיקִ֖ם (righteous) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעִ֑יר (of the city). הַאַ֤ף (Would also) תִּסְפֶּה֙ (You destroy) וְלֹא־ (and not) תִשָּׂ֣א (spare) לַמָּק֔וֹם (the place) לְמַ֛עַן (for the sake of) חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים (the fifty) הַצַּדִּיקִ֖ם (righteous) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃ (are within it)? 25  חָלִ֨לָה (Far be it) לְּךָ֜ (from You) מֵעֲשֹׂ֣ת׀ (to do) כַּדָּבָ֣ר (such a thing) הַזֶּ֗ה (as this), לְהָמִ֤ית (to slay) צַדִּיק֙ (the righteous) עִם־ (with) רָשָׁ֔ע (the wicked), וְהָיָ֥ה (so that should be) כַצַּדִּ֖יק (the righteous) כָּרָשָׁ֑ע (as the wicked). חָלִ֣לָה (Far be it) לָּ֔ךְ (from You)! הֲשֹׁפֵט֙ (Shall the Judge) כָּל־ (of all) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the earth) לֹ֥א (not) יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (do) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice)?

26  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), אִם־ (If) אֶמְצָ֥א (I find) בִסְדֹ֛ם (in Sodom) חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים (fifty) צַדִּיקִ֖ם (righteous) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst of) הָעִ֑יר (the city), וְנָשָׂ֥אתִי (and I will spare) לְכָל־ (all) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place) בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃ (on their account).

27  וַיַּ֥עַן (And answered) אַבְרָהָ֖ם (Abraham) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), הִנֵּה־ (Behold), נָ֤א (please), הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ (I have taken it upon myself) לְדַבֵּ֣ר (to speak) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנָ֔י (the Lord), וְאָנֹכִ֖י (and I am) עָפָ֥ר (dust) וָאֵֽפֶר׃ (and ash). 28  א֠וּלַי (Suppose) יַחְסְר֞וּן (there are lacking) חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים (of the fifty) הַצַּדִּיקִם֙ (righteous) חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה (five)? הֲתַשְׁחִ֥ית (Would You destroy) בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (for the five) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעִ֑יר (the city)?

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And He said), לֹ֣א (Not) אַשְׁחִ֔ית (I will destroy it) אִם־ (if) אֶמְצָ֣א (I find) שָׁ֔ם (there) אַרְבָּעִ֖ים (forty) וַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃ (and five).

29  וַיֹּ֨סֶף (And he added) ע֜וֹד (again) לְדַבֵּ֤ר (to speak) אֵלָיו֙ (to Him) וַיֹּאמַ֔ר (and he said), אוּלַ֛י (Suppose) יִמָּצְא֥וּן (there should be found) שָׁ֖ם (there) אַרְבָּעִ֑ים (forty)?

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And He said), לֹ֣א (Not) אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה (I will do it) בַּעֲב֖וּר (on account) הָאַרְבָּעִֽים׃ (of the forty).

30  וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (And he said), אַל־ (Not) נָ֞א (please) יִ֤חַר (be hot) לַֽאדֹנָי֙ (the Lord), וַאֲדַבֵּ֔רָה (and I will speak). אוּלַ֛י (Suppose) יִמָּצְא֥וּן (should be found) שָׁ֖ם (there) שְׁלֹשִׁ֑ים (thirty).

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And He said), לֹ֣א (Not) אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֔ה (I will do it) אִם־ (if) אֶמְצָ֥א (I find) שָׁ֖ם (there) שְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃ (thirty).

31  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), הִנֵּֽה־ (Behold), נָ֤א (please), הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ (I have ventured) לְדַבֵּ֣ר (to speak) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנָ֔י (the Lord). אוּלַ֛י (Suppose) יִמָּצְא֥וּן (should be found) שָׁ֖ם (there) עֶשְׂרִ֑ים (twenty).

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And He said), לֹ֣א (Not) אַשְׁחִ֔ית (I will destroy it) בַּעֲב֖וּר (on account) הָֽעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ (of the twenty).

32  וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (And he said), אַל־ (Not) נָ֞א (please) יִ֤חַר (be hot) לַֽאדֹנָי֙ (the Lord), וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה (and I will speak) אַךְ־ (but) הַפַּ֔עַם (once more). אוּלַ֛י (Suppose) יִמָּצְא֥וּן (should be found) שָׁ֖ם (there) עֲשָׂרָ֑ה (ten).

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And He said), לֹ֣א (Not) אַשְׁחִ֔ית (I will destroy it) בַּעֲב֖וּר (on account) הָעֲשָׂרָֽה׃ (of the ten).

33  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And went His way) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as soon as) כִּלָּ֔ה (He had finished) לְדַבֵּ֖ר (speaking) אֶל־ (with) אַבְרָהָ֑ם (Abraham), וְאַבְרָהָ֖ם (and Abraham) שָׁ֥ב (returned) לִמְקֹמֽוֹ׃ (to his place).