Genesis 18
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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.1Later, the LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks belonging to Mamre. As Abraham was sitting near the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day,
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.2he glanced up and saw three men standing there, not far from him. As soon as he noticed them, Abraham ran from the tent entrance to greet them and bowed low to the ground.
3“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while.3"My lords," he told them, "if I have found favor with you, please don't leave your servant.
4Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.4I'll have some water brought to wash your feet while you rest under the tree.
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.”5I'll bring some food for you, and after that you may continue your journey, since you have come to visit your servant." So they replied, "Okay! Do what you've proposed."
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.”6Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread."
7Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.7Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it.
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.8Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate.
9“Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.9The men asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" "There, in the tent," he replied.
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.10Then one of them said, "I will certainly return to you in about a year's time. By then, your wife Sarah will have borne a son." Now Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.
11Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.11Abraham and Sarah were old—really old —and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing.
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?”12That's why Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "After I'm so old and my husband is old, too, am I going to have sex?"
13Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’13The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and think, 'Am I really going to bear a child, since I'm so old?'
14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”14Is anything impossible for the LORD? At the time set for it, I will return to you—about a year from now—and Sarah will have a son."
15Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the LORD said, “No, you did laugh.” Abraham Intercedes for Sodom15But Sarah denied it. "I didn't laugh," she claimed, because she was afraid. The LORD replied, "No! You did laugh!"
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.16After this, the men set out from there and looked out over Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them off.
17“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.17"Should I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do," the LORD asked,
18“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.18"since Abraham's descendants will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through 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.”19Indeed, I've made myself known to him in order that he may encourage his sons and his household that is born after him to keep the way of the LORD, and to do what is right and just, so that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what he has promised."
20So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.20The LORD also said, "How great is the disapproval of Sodom and Gomorrah! Their sin is so very serious!
21I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”21I'm going down to see whether they've acted according to the protests that have reached me. If not, I wish to know."
22The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.22Then two of the men turned away from there and walked toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing in the presence of the LORD.
23Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?23Abraham approached and asked, "Will you actually destroy the righteous along with the wicked?
24Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?24Perhaps there are 50 righteous ones within the city. Will you actually destroy it and not forgive the place for the sake of the 50 righteous that are found there?
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?”25Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! The Judge of all the earth will do what is right, won't he?"
26And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”26The LORD said, "If I find 50 righteous people within Sodom, I'll forgive the whole place for their sake."
27Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.27Abraham answered, "Look, even though I am only dust and ashes, I've ventured to speak to my LORD.
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.”28What if there are five less than 50 righteous ones? Will you bring destruction upon the city because of those five?" The LORD said, "I won't destroy it if I find 45 there."
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.”29Abraham continued to speak to him, asking, "What if 40 are found there?" The LORD replied, "I won't do it for the sake of those 40."
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.”30Abraham then asked, "I hope my LORD will not be angry if I speak. What if 30 are found there?" The LORD answered, "I won't do it for the sake of those 30."
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.”31"Look," Abraham said, "I've presumed to speak to my LORD… so what if 20 are found there?" "For the sake of those 20," the LORD responded, "I won't 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.”32Finally, Abraham inquired, "I hope my LORD will not be angry if I speak only once more. What if ten are found there?" He replied, "For the sake of those ten I won't destroy it."
33When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.33As soon as he finished talking to Abraham, the LORD left and Abraham returned to where he had been sitting.
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.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Genesis 17
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