God's New Bible

The First Book of Moses: Genesis

Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 18 -

1
Yahweh appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent doorway in the heat of the day.
2
He looked up and behold, he saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed low to the ground.
3
He said, “Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant.
4
Let a little water be brought, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5
Let me bring a little food, so that you may refresh yourselves. Afterwards you can go your way, since you have come to your servant.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”
6
Then Abraham quickly went into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Hurry, get three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”
7
Then Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf that was tender and good, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
8
He took curds and milk, and the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

Sarah Laughs at the Promise

9
They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There, in the tent.”
10
He said, “I will certainly return to you in the springtime, and see, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah was listening in the tent doorway, which was behind him.
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, very advanced in age, and Sarah had passed the age when women could bear children.
12
So Sarah laughed to herself, saying to herself, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13
Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really bear a child, when I am old’?
14
Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the time appointed by me, in the spring, I will return to you. About this time next year Sarah will have a son.”
15
Then Sarah denied it and said, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He replied, “No, you did laugh.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16
Then the men arose to leave and looked down toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17
But Yahweh said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
18
since Abraham will indeed become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19
For I have chosen him so that he may instruct his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what he has said to him.”
20
Then Yahweh said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and because their sin is so serious,
21
I will now go down there and see the outcry against her that has come to me, whether they have really done it. If not, I will know.”
22
So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before Yahweh.
23
Then Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24
Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are there?
25
Far be it from you to do such a thing, killing the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be treated the same as the wicked. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
26
Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27
Abraham answered and said, “Look, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord, even though I am only dust and ashes!
28
What if there are five less than fifty righteous? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” Then he said, “I will not destroy it, if I find there forty-five.”
29
He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”
30
He said, “Please do not be angry, Lord, so I may speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there.” He replied, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”
31
He said, “Look, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord! Perhaps twenty will be found there.” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
32
He said, “Please do not be angry, Lord, and I will speak this one last time. Perhaps ten will be found there.” Then he said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
33
Yahweh went on his way as soon as he had finished talking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.
1
The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
2
He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. 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, please don’t go away from your servant.
4
Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5
I will get a piece 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.”
6
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs (a) of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”
7
Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.
8
He 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.

Sarah Laughs at the Promise

9
They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”
10
He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12
Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’
14
Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”
15
Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16
The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
17
The LORD said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,
18
since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
19
For 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 the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
20
The LORD said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,
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.”
22
The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23
Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
24
What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?
25
May it be 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?”
26
The LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27
Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.
28
What 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.”
29
He 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.”
30
He 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.”
31
He 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.”
32
He 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.”
33
The LORD went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Footnotes

(a)18:6 1 seah is about 7 liters or 1.9 gallons or 0.8 pecks