Genesis 18:16-33 ▼

16 And the men rose from there and looked on the face of Sodom, and Abraham walked with them to send them off.

17 And YHWH said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?

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

19 For I have known him in order that he may command his children and his house after him that they keep the way of YHWH by doing what is right and just, that YHWH may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

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

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

22 And the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, and Abraham still stood before YHWH.

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

24 Suppose there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; would You also destroy and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are within it?

25 Far 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 the Judge of all the earth not do justice?”

26 And YHWH said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the midst of the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”

27 And Abraham answered and said, “Behold, please, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord, and I am dust and ash.

28 Suppose there are lacking five of the fifty righteous? Would You destroy for the five the whole city?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find there forty and five.”

29 And he added again to speak to Him, and he said, “Suppose there should be found there forty?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”

30 And he said, “Please, may the Lord not be hot, and I will speak. Suppose there should be found thirty.” And He said, “I will not do it if I find there thirty.”

31 And he said, “Behold, please, I have ventured to speak to the Lord. Suppose there should be found twenty.” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”

32 And he said, “Please may the Lord not be hot, and I will speak but once more. Suppose there should be found ten.” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”

33 And YHWH went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.