Genesis 18:22-33 ▼

22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before God.

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

24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you sweep it away and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?

25 Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?|

26 God said, |If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.|

27 Abraham answered, |See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?| He said, |I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.|

29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, |What if there are forty found there?| He said, |I will not do it for the forty's sake.|

30 He said, |Oh do not let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?| He said, |I will not do it, if I find thirty there.|

31 He said, |Look, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?| He said, |I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.|

32 He said, |Oh do not let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?| He said, |I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.|

33 When he finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned to his place.