Genesis 18

A Son Is Promised to Sarah

18The 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.H3068H7200H436H4471H3427H168H6607H2527H31172He 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.H5375H5869H7200H7969H582H5324H7200H7323H7125H168H6607H7812H7763"My lord," he said, "if it pleases you, stop here for a while.H559H136H4672H2580H5869H5674H56504Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.H4592H4325H4994H3947H7364H7272H8172H60865And 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."H3947H6595H3899H5582H3820H310H5674H5674H5921H5650H1696H6213H5596So 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."H85H4116H168H8283H559H4116H7969H5429H5560H7058H3888H6213H5692H62137Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.H85H7323H1241H3947H1121H1241H7390H2896H5414H5288H4116H62138When 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.H3947H2529H2461H1121H1241H6213H5414H6440H5975H6086H3989"Where is Sarah, your wife?" the visitors asked. "She's inside the tent," Abraham replied.H559H346H8283H802H559H16810Then 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.H559H7725H7725H6256H2416H8283H802H1121H8283H8085H168H6607H31011Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.H85H8283H2205H935H3117H2308H8283H734H80212So 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?"H8283H6711H7130H559H310H1086H5730H113H220413Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?'H3068H559H85H4100H8283H6711H559H552H3205H589H220414Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."H6381H1697H6381H3068H4150H7725H6256H2416H8283H112115Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, "I didn't laugh." But the LORD said, "No, you did laugh."H8283H3584H559H6711H3372H559H3808H6711

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

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.H582H6965H8259H6440H5467H85H1980H797117"Should I hide my plan from Abraham?" the LORD asked.H3068H559H3680H85H834H621318"For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.H85H1419H6099H1471H1471H776H128819I 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."H3045H834H6680H1121H1004H310H8104H1870H3068H6213H6666H4941H3068H935H85H169620So the LORD told Abraham, "I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.H3068H559H2201H5467H6017H7227H2403H3966H351321I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know."H3381H7200H6213H3617H6818H935H304522The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.H582H6437H3212H5467H85H5975H5750H6440H306823Abraham approached him and said, "Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?H85H5066H559H5595H6662H5973H756324Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?H3426H2572H6662H8432H5892H5595H5375H4725H4616H2572H6662H713025Surely 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?"H2486H6213H1697H4191H6662H7563H6662H7563H2486H8199H776H6213H494126And the LORD replied, "If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake."H3068H559H4672H5467H2572H6662H8432H5892H5375H472527Then Abraham spoke again. "Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.H85H6030H559H2974H1696H136H595H6083H66528Suppose 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."H2637H2568H2572H6662H7843H5892H2568H559H4672H705H2568H784329Then 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."H1696H3254H559H705H4672H559H6213H70530"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."H559H4994H136H2734H1696H7970H4672H559H6213H4672H797031Then 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."H559H2974H1696H136H6242H4672H559H7843H624232Finally, 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."H559H136H2734H1696H389H6471H6235H4672H559H7843H623533When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.H3068H3212H834H3615H1696H85H85H7725H4725