English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

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.

1Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.

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

2And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

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

3“My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.

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

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

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.”

5And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

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

6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”

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

7Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

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.

8Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.

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

9“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.

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.

10Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.

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

11And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

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

12So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

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

13And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’

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.”

14Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

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

15But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”

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

16When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.

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

17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

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

18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

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.”

19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

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

20Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,

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.”

21I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”

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

22And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

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

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

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?

24What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?

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?”

25Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

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

26So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”

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

27Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

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.”

28suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”

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

29Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”

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.”

30Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

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.”

31And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

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.”

32Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

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

33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.

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.

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