Chapter 18

Chapter 18

1 The Self-Existent appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the heat of the day.

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, “My Master, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant.

4 Let a little water be brought, and all of you wash your feet and rest under this tree.

5 Let me fetch a piece of bread so you can refresh yourselves before you move on, since you have come to your servant.”
“Do exactly as you have said,” they replied.

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick!” he said. “Get three seahs of the finest flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before them. While they ate, he stood near them under the tree.

9 “Where is your woman Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.

10 Then the lead traveler said, “I will surely return to you at this exact time next year, and your woman Sarah will physically bear a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now experience this pleasure?”

13 Then The Self-Existent said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really bear a child, now that I am old?’

14 Is anything out of reach for The Self-Existent? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will physically bear a son.”

15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I didn’t laugh.”
But He replied, “No, you did laugh.”

16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.

17 Then The Self-Existent said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to execute?

18 Abraham will surely become a massive and powerful nation, and all nations on the earth will be endowed with the power of life through him.

19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of The Self-Existent by executing right alignment and fair judgment, so that The Self-Existent may bring about for Abraham what He has promised him.”

20 Then The Self-Existent stated, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense and their wrongdoing is exceptionally heavy.

21 I will go down now to evaluate whether their actions match the outcry that has reached Me; if not, knowing, I will know.”

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before The Self-Existent.

23 Then Abraham approached Him and asked, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the wrongdoer?

24 What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the 50 innocent people within it?

25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to slaughter the innocent along with the wrongdoer, treating the innocent and the wrongdoer identical! Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth execute fair judgment?”

26 The Self-Existent replied, “If I find 50 innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the entire place for their sake.”

27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have taken it upon myself to speak to My Master, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,

28 what if the number of the innocent is five less than 50? Will You ruin the whole city because of five people?”
“If I find 45 there, I will not ruin it,” He said.

29 Once again Abraham spoke to Him: “What if only 40 are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of 40, I will not do it.”

30 Then he said, “May My Master not be angry, but let me speak. What if only 30 are found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find 30 there.”

31 Abraham said, “Now that I have taken it upon myself to speak to My Master: What if only 20 are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of 20, I will not ruin it.”

32 Then he said, “May My Master not be angry, but let me speak just one last time. What if only 10 are found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of 10, I will not ruin it.”

33 When The Self-Existent had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his camp.