King James Version, Updated™

(1) The LORD appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door during the heat of the day.

(2) He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood by him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself toward the ground,

(3) And said, "My Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, I ask you, do not pass on by your servant.

(4) Please let a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

(5) And I will bring a morsel of bread, and comfort your hearts, after that YOU shall pass on, as YOU have come to your servant." And they said, "Do as you have said."

(6) And Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, make three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes on the hearth."

(7) And Abraham ran to the herd, and got a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man to quickly prepare it.

(8) Then he took butter, 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) They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "In the tent."

(10) 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 heard it from in the tent door, which was behind him.

(11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well advanced in age, and the manner of women ceased to be with Sarah.

(12) Therefore Sarah laughed to herself saying, "After I have become old shall I have pleasure, my lord is old also?"

(13) And the LORD said to Abraham, "Did Sarah laugh saying, 'Shall I truly bear a child, when I am old?'

(14) 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) Then Sarah denied laughing, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. And he said, "No, but you did laugh."

(16) The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on their way.

(17) And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I am doing,

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

(19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken to him."

(20) And 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 they have done altogether according to the cry that has come to me, and if not, I will know."

(22) The men turned their faces from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood before the LORD.

(23) And Abraham drew near and said, "Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

(24) Perhaps there are 50 righteous people within the city. Will you destroy and not spare the place for the 50 righteous that are there?

(25) Far be it from you to do this, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous are treated as the wicked, far be it from you. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

(26) And the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom 50 righteous people within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."

(27) Abraham answered and said, "Behold now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord, who am I but dust and ashes.

(28) Perhaps they lack five of the 50 righteous people. Will you destroy all the city for a lack of five?" And he said, "If I find there 45, I will not destroy it."

(29) Then he spoke to him yet again, and said, "Perhaps there shall be 40 righteous people found there." And he said, "I will not do it for the sake of 40."

(30) And he said to him, "Oh let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps there shall be 30 righteous people found there." And he said, "I will not do it, if I find 30 there."

(31) Then he said, "Behold now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Perhaps there shall be 20 righteous people found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of 20."

(32) He then said, "Oh let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak this only once. Perhaps 10 righteous people shall be found there. And he said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of 10."

(33) And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.