Genesis 18
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1The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.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.
2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.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.
3He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.3“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while.
4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.4Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.
5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say."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.”
6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread."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.”
7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.7Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.
8He then brought some 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.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.
9"Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said.9“Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.
10Then one of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.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.
11Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.11Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.
12So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?"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?”
13Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'13Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’
14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."15Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the LORD said, “No, you did laugh.” Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.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.
17Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?17“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.
18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.18“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
19For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised 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.”
20Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous20So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.
21that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."21I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
22The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.22The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.
23Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?23Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?
24What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?24Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?
25Far be it 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 all the earth do right?"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?”
26The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."26And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
27Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,27Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.
28what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."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.”
29Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."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.”
30Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."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.”
31Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."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.”
32Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."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.”
33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.33When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.
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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.
Genesis 17
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