1And YHWH appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he was sitting at the opening of the tent in the heat of the day.
2And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men (ish) were standing over against him; and he saw, and ran to meet them from the opening of the tent, and bowed himself to the earth,
3and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your eyes, do not now pass on from over your servant.
4Let now a little water be taken, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree.
5And let me take a piece of bread, and sustain your heart; afterward you may pass on; for therefore you have passed by to your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have spoken."
6And Abraham hastened to the tent unto Sarah, and said, "Hurry, three measures of meal, fine flour; knead, and make cakes."
7And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a son of the herd, tender and good, and gave it to the young man, and he hastened to prepare it.
8And he took curd and milk, and the son of the herd which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree, and they ate.
9And they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife (ishah)?" And he said, "Behold, in the tent."
10And he said, "Returning I will return to you about the time of life (chai), and behold, a son shall be to Sarah your wife (ishah)." And Sarah was listening at the opening of the tent, and it was behind him.
11And Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in days; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women (ishah).
12And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old shall I have pleasure, and my lord is old?"
13And YHWH said to Abraham, "Why is it that Sarah laughed, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear, and I am old?'
14Is anything too wonderful for YHWH? At the appointed time (moed) I will return to you, about the time of life (chai), and Sarah shall have a son."
15And Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And he said, "No, but you did laugh."
16And the men (ish) rose up from there, and looked down upon the face of Sodom; and Abraham was going with them to send them away.
17And YHWH said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
18seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I have known him, so that he may command (tzivvah) his children and his house after him, that they may keep the way of YHWH, to do righteousness and judgment (mishpat); so that YHWH may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken concerning him."
20And YHWH said, "The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah — indeed it is great, and their sin — indeed it is exceedingly heavy,
21let me go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to its cry which has come to me; and if not, I will know."
22And the men (ish) turned from there, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham was still standing before YHWH.
23And Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city; will you indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are within it?
25Far be it from you to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do judgment (mishpat)?"
26And YHWH said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake."
27And Abraham answered and said, "Behold now, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord (Adonai), and I am dust (aphar) and ashes.
28Perhaps the fifty righteous will lack five; will you destroy all the city for five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find there forty-five."
29And he continued yet again to speak to him, and said, "Perhaps forty will be found there." And he said, "I will not do it for the sake of the forty."
30And he said, "Let not my Lord (Adonai) be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there." And he said, "I will not do it if I find there thirty."
31And he said, "Behold now, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord (Adonai). Perhaps twenty will be found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty."
32And he said, "Let not my Lord (Adonai) be angry, and I will speak only this once. Perhaps ten will be found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten."
33And YHWH went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.