(BA) Genesis 18

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The text below has been adapted from the ASV.

1 And Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and there stood three men across from him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, do not pass on, please, from your servant. 4 Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will fetch a bit of bread, and strengthen your heart; after that you may pass on, for therefore you have come to your servant.

And they said, So do, and you have said.

6 And Abraham hurried to the tent to Sarah, and said, Prepare quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes. 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and fetched a good tender calf, and gave it to his servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

9 And they said to him, Where is Sarah your wife?

And he said, There: in the tent.

10 And he said, I will certainly return to you when the season comes round; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well on in age; the way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I have grown old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I really bear a child, who am old? 14 Is 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.

15 Then Sarah denied it, saying, I did not laugh; because she was afraid.

And he said, No, but you did laugh.

16 And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And Yahweh said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through him? 19 For I have known him, so 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 upon Abraham what he has spoken of him.

20 And Yahweh said, Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done everything they are accused of, as I have heard. And if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before Yahweh. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do so, to slay the righteous with the wicked. Far be it from you! Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?

26 And Yahweh said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. 28 Perhaps there will be five less than fifty righteous. Will you destroy all the city for five less?

And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.

29 And he spoke to him yet again, and said, Perhaps there will be forty found there.

And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake.

30 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps there will be thirty found there.

And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Perhaps there will be twenty found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet this once more. Perhaps ten will be found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.

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

ASV. The American Standard Version of the Bible, as printed in 1901 by Thomas Nelson and Sons.

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