18:1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 1 , The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
18:2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 2 , Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
18:3 He said, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 3 , He said, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
18:4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 4 , Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
18:5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant.' 'Very well,' they answered, 'do as you say.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 5 , Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant.' 'Very well,' they answered, 'do as you say.'
18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. 'Quick,' he said, 'get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 6 , So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. 'Quick,' he said, 'get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.'
18:7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 7 , Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
18:8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 8 , He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
18:9 'Where is your wife Sarah?' they asked him. 'There, in the tent,' he said.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 9 , 'Where is your wife Sarah?' they asked him. 'There, in the tent,' he said.
18:10 Then the LORD said, 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.' Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 10 , Then the LORD said, 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.' Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.
18:11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 11 , Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.
18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 12 , So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?'
18:13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 13 , Then the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 14 , Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.'
18:15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 'I did not laugh.' But he said, 'Yes, you did laugh.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 15 , Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 'I did not laugh.' But he said, 'Yes, you did laugh.'
18:16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 16 , When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.
18:17 Then the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 17 , Then the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18:18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 18 , Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 19 , For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.'
18:20 Then the LORD said, 'The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 20 , Then the LORD said, 'The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
18:21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 21 , that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.'
18:22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 22 , The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
18:23 Then Abraham approached him and said: 'Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 23 , Then Abraham approached him and said: 'Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
18:24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 24 , What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?
18:25 Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 25 , Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?'
18:26 The LORD said, 'If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 26 , The LORD said, 'If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.'
18:27 Then Abraham spoke up again: 'Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 27 , Then Abraham spoke up again: 'Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,
18:28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?' 'If I find forty-five there,' he said, 'I will not destroy it.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 28 , what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?' 'If I find forty-five there,' he said, 'I will not destroy it.'
18:29 Once again he spoke to him, 'What if only forty are found there?' He said, 'For the sake of forty, I will not do it.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 29 , Once again he spoke to him, 'What if only forty are found there?' He said, 'For the sake of forty, I will not do it.'
18:30 Then he said, 'May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?' He answered, 'I will not do it if I find thirty there.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 30 , Then he said, 'May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?' He answered, 'I will not do it if I find thirty there.'
18:31 Abraham said, 'Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?' He said, 'For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 31 , Abraham said, 'Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?' He said, 'For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.'
18:32 Then he said, 'May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?' He answered, 'For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.'
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 32 , Then he said, 'May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?' He answered, 'For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.'
18:33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
The NIV Book of Genesis , Chapter 18 , Verse 33 , When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
