International Standard Version

English Standard Version

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,

1And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

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.

2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth

3"My lords," he told them, "if I have found favor with you, please don't leave your servant.

3and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

4I'll have some water brought to wash your feet while you rest under the tree.

4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,

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."

5while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

6Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread."

6And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.”

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.

7And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.

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.

8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9The men asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" "There, in the tent," he replied.

9They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in 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.

10The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

11Abraham and Sarah were old—really old —and Sarah was beyond the age of childbearing.

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

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?"

12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”

13The LORD asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and think, 'Am I really going to bear a child, since I'm so old?'

13The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

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."

14Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

15But Sarah denied it. "I didn't laugh," she claimed, because she was afraid. The LORD replied, "No! You did laugh!"

15But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16After this, the men set out from there and looked out over Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them off.

16Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.

17"Should I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do," the LORD asked,

17The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

18"since Abraham's descendants will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?

18seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

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."

19For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

20The LORD also said, "How great is the disapproval of Sodom and Gomorrah! Their sin is so very serious!

20Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,

21I'm going down to see whether they've acted according to the protests that have reached me. If not, I wish to know."

21I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

22Then two of the men turned away from there and walked toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing in the presence of the LORD.

22So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.

23Abraham approached and asked, "Will you actually destroy the righteous along with the wicked?

23Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

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?

24Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

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?"

25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

26The LORD said, "If I find 50 righteous people within Sodom, I'll forgive the whole place for their sake."

26And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27Abraham answered, "Look, even though I am only dust and ashes, I've ventured to speak to my LORD.

27Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

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."

28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

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."

29Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”

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."

30Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”

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."

31He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.”

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."

32Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

33As soon as he finished talking to Abraham, the LORD left and Abraham returned to where he had been sitting.

33And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.