The Three Visitors
1. Then 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.
2. And 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.
3. “My Lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.
4. Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
5. And let me bring a piece of bread, 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, “do as you have said.”
6. So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “knead three measures of fine flour, knead it and make some bread.”
7. Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a tender, choice calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8. He took curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
Sarah Laughs at the Promise
9. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
10. Then 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.
11. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years, and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12. So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13. But the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’
14. Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—at this time next year—and Sarah will have a son.”
15. Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But the LORD said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16. Then the men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.
17. And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18. Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
19. For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. This is how the LORD will fulfill for Abraham what He promised him.”
20. Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great indeed, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
21. I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
22. The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
23. And Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24. What 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?
25. Far 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?”
26. So the LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”
27. Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, though I am but dust and ashes,
28. what if the fifty righteous ones lack five? Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” “If I find forty-five there,” He answered, “I will not destroy it.”
29. Once again Abraham spoke to Him, “What if forty are found there?” He answered, “For the sake of the forty, I will not do it.”
30. Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. What if only thirty are found there?” He answered, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”
31. Abraham said, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” “For the sake of the twenty,” He replied, “I will not destroy it.”
32. Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten are found there?” And He answered, “For the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it.”
33. When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.