Genesis 18
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New Living TranslationHolman Christian Standard Bible
1The LORD appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day.1Then the LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day.
2He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.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 and bowed to the ground.
3“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while.3Then he said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant.
4Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.4Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
5And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.” “All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”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."
6So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.”6So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread."
7Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.7Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.
8When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.8Then Abraham took curds and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree."
9“Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.9Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him." There, in the tent," he answered.
10Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from 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.
11Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.11Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”12So she laughed to herself: "After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?"
13Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’13But the LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Can I really have a baby when I'm old?
14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”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."
15Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the LORD said, “No, you did laugh.” Abraham Intercedes for Sodom15Sarah denied it. "I did not laugh," she said, because she was afraid. But He replied, "No, you did laugh."
16Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.16The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off.
17“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.17Then the LORD said, "Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?
18“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.18Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
19I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”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."
20So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.20Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.
21I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”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."
22The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.22The men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
23Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?23Abraham stepped forward and said, "Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?24What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it?
25Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”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 all the earth do what is just?"
26And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”26The LORD said, "If I find 50 righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
27Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.27Then Abraham answered, "Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord--even though I am dust and ashes--
28Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”28suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" He replied, "I will not destroy it if I find 45 there."
29Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”29Then he spoke to Him again, "Suppose 40 are found there?" He answered, "I will not do it on account of 40."
30“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”30Then he said, "Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose 30 are found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find 30 there."
31Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”31Then he said, "Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it on account of 20."
32Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”32Then he said, "Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose 10 are found there?" He answered, "I will not destroy it on account of 10."
33When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his place.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Genesis 17
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