Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1The LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during 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.

2He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed 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 found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant.

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

4Let a little water be brought, that you may 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,

5I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant's way. Later, you can continue on." "Yes," they replied, "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 and said to Sarah, "Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread."

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

7Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried 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.

8Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.

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.

9"Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he answered.

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

10The LORD said, "I will certainly come back to you in about a year's time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!" Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent 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.

11Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. 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.

12So she laughed to herself: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?"

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

13But the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Can I really have a baby when I'm 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 impossible for the LORD? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will 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.”

15Sarah denied it. "I did not laugh," she said, because she was afraid. But he replied, "No, you did laugh."

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

16The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off.

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

17Then the LORD said, "Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?

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

18Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through 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 chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. This is how the LORD will fulfill to Abraham what he promised 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.”

20Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.

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

21I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out."

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.”

22The men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

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

23Abraham stepped forward and said, "Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

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

24What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are 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?

25You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won't the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?"

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?”

26The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

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, "Since I have ventured to speak to my lord--even though I am dust and ashes--

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

28suppose the fifty righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" He replied, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

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.”

29Then he spoke to him again, "Suppose forty are found there?" He answered, "I will not do it on account 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 my lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?" He answered, "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.”

31Then he said, "Since I have ventured to speak to my lord, suppose twenty are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it on account 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 my lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose ten are found there?" He answered, "I will not destroy it on account 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.”

33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, 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 Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.