Genesis 18

Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at his tent’s front door
In the heat of the day. He looked up, and saw three men near him that were not there before.
When he saw them, he ran from the door of his tent to greet them, and he bowed to the ground.
He said, “My lords, pray, if I’ve found favor with you, do not pass by this servant you’ve found.
Pray let water be fetched, just a little, then wash your feet and recline under the tree;
Let me fetch you a morsel of bread to refresh your hearts, then go on with your journey–
After all, you have passed by your servant’s way.” And the three spoke, “Do just as you have said.”
Abraham quickly ran into the tent with Sarah and said, “Quick, we’ll need three small breads.
Take three measures of good flour, knead it, make cakes!” Abraham ran to the herd outside,
He took one fine young calf, and gave it to a slave, who prepared it quickly to provide.
Then he fetched cream and milk, and the calf he’d prepared, and placed all of it before the three.
He was standing nearby them right under the tree while they ate. And then they said to he,
“Where is Sarah your wife?” He said, “Here, in the tent.” One then said, “I will return to you
In the spring, at the time when life blossoms; and your wife Sarah will blossom a son too!”
Sarah was listening at the door of the tent, behind Abraham, hid from his gaze.
And both Sarah and Abraham were old in years; Sarah no longer had women’s ways.
Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Now that I’m withered and worn, am I now to have pleasure?
With my husband so old?” God said to Abraham, “Now why does Sarah laugh in such measure?
Why does she ask herself, ‘Shall I really give birth to a child, now that I am so old?’
Is there anything beyond the Lord? I will return to you at the time I’ve foretold,
In the spring, when life blossoms, and Sarah will have a son.”  Sarah spoke a fabrication,
Saying, “I did not laugh.” For she was afraid. But God said, “You did laugh, on that occasion.”

The men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom, Abraham went with them as escort.
God said to Himself, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I’m about to do, or report?
For this Abraham is to become a great nation, a populous nation as well,
And then all of the nations on earth are to find blessing through Abraham for themselves.
For I have chosen him and known him, he will instruct his sons and his household in trust,
After him to keep walking the ways of the Lord, by doing that which is right and just,
So that God may bring for Abraham what He has promised is to be Abraham’s fate.”
So God said, “The outcry in Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin has great weight.
I will go down and see if they’ve done altogether according to the cry I heard.
Great destruction if so. And if not, I will know.” And that was the Lord Almighty’s word.

So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but still Abraham stood before God.
Abraham came close and said, “Will you really kill innocent men along with the flawed?
Perhaps in this big city of guilty men live fifty innocents, are they to die?
Will you not spare the place for the sake of fifty innocents, who might in that place lie?
Heaven forbid that You do a thing like this, that You would bring death to the innocent
Along with the guilty, so both types of men end up rewarded to the same extent.
Indeed, far be it from You to do this! Shall not the judge of all earth do what is just?”
God replied, “If I find in Sodom fifty innocents, then spare the city I must.
I will bear the sin of the whole city for their sake.” Then Abraham spoke and said, “Pray,
I have ventured to speak to my Lord God Almighty, and I am but mere dust and clay.
Now, perhaps of the innocent fifty, five will lack– For that, shall none be left alive?
Will the city fall for them?” God said, “I will not bring ruin, if I find there forty-five.”
But then Abraham spoke up again and said, “Maybe only forty there are not bad.”
God said, “I will not do it, for those forty’s sake.” Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be mad
If I speak a bit further: Perhaps only thirty such innocent men will be found.”
God said, “I will not do it, if I find there thirty such innocent men on the ground.”
But then Abraham said, “Pray, I venture to speak to my Lord, if my words he will take.
Maybe only twenty will be found.” God said, “I won’t bring ruin, for those twenty’s sake.”
But then Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be mad that I speak up this one last time again:
What if only ten can be found?” God said, “I will not bring ruin, for the sake of the ten.”
And the Lord went his way, when He had finished speaking to Abraham, then He departed.
And so Abraham too then returned to his place, where he was ‘ere this dialogue started.