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The Three Visitors

18:1 The LORD appeared1 to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, while2 he was sitting at the entrance3 to his tent in the heat of the day. 18:2 And he4 lifted up his eyes5 and looked, and there were6 three men standing across7 from him. When he saw them8 he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low9 to the ground.10

18:3 And he said, “My lord,11 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by from your servant.12 18:4 Let a little water be brought so that13 you may wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 18:5 And let me get14 a bit of food

so that you may refresh yourselves,15 after which you may be on your way, in that16 you have come over17 to your servant. And they said, “Fine, you may do as you say.18

18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and he said, “Hurry19—three seahs20 of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.21 18:7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and took a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant,22 and he prepared it quickly.23 18:8 He then took some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and placed it before them. And they ate while24 he was standing near them under the tree.

18:9 And they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There,25 in the tent.” 18:10 Then he26 said, “I will surely return27 to you when the season comes round again,28 and Sarah your wife will have a son.”29 Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.30 18:11 And Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years;31 and Sarah had long since passed the menopause.32 18:12 So Sarah laughed within herself, thinking,33 “After I am worn out will I have pleasure,34 when my husband is old too?”35

18:13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why36 did Sarah laugh and say, `Will I indeed37 have a child when I am old?’ 18:14 Is anything too wonderful38 for the LORD? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.”39

18:15 But Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid; but he said, “No—you did laugh.”40

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

18:16 When the men arose from there they looked out over41 Sodom.42 Now Abraham43 was walking with them to bring them on their way.44

18:17 Then the LORD said, “Should I conceal from Abraham

that which I am about to do?45 18:18 Abraham46 will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth will be blessed in him. 18:19 I have chosen him,47 to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep48 the way of the LORD by doing49 righteous and justice, so that the LORD will bring50 on Abraham that which he spoke to him.”

18:20 So the LORD said, “The outcry against51 Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin52 is very grievous.53 18:21 I will go down54 and I will see if they have done as wickedly55 as the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know it.56

18:22 The men turned57 and headed58 toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the LORD.59 18:23 And Abraham drew near and said, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?60 18:24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you indeed sweep it away and not spare61 the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 18:25 Far be it62 from you to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you. Will not the judge of the whole earth do right?”63

18:26 So the LORD said, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

18:27 And Abraham answered and said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes,64 18:28 what if there are five less than the fifty righteous people? Will you destroy65 the whole city because of the five? And he said, “I will not destroy if I find there forty-five.”

18:29 He spoke again to Him,66 “What if there are found forty there?” And he said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”

18:30 Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry67 so that I may speak;68 what if thirty are found there?” And he said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

18:31 And he said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” And he said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

18:32 Finally he said,69 “Let not the Lord be angry so that I may speak just once more; what if there are found there ten?” And he said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

18:33 And the LORD went His way70 when he had finished speaking71 to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

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