1 Y ahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.

Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

2 H e lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,

So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

3 a nd said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.

and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.

4 N ow let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

5 I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”

And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”

6 A braham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.”

7 A braham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.

And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.

8 H e took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

9 T hey asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “See, in the tent.”

Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.”

10 H e said, “I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)

11 N ow Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

12 S arah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

13 Y ahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’

14 I s anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”

Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

15 T hen Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!” Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16 T he men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.

Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way.

17 Y ahweh said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,

And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,

18 s ince Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?

since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 F or I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”

For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

20 Y ahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,

And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”

I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

22 T he men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.

Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.

23 A braham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?

And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 W hat if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?

Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?

25 B e it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

26 Y ahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

27 A braham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.

Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:

28 W hat if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.”

Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. ”

29 H e spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”

And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

30 H e said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”

Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 H e said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”

And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

32 H e said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”

Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”

33 Y ahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.