Abraham Intercedes

16Then the men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to send them on their way.

17And Yahweh said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?”

18Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him.

19For I have known him, so that he may command his children and his household after him, and they may keep the way of Yahweh by doing righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken concerning him.

20Then Yahweh said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very severe.”

21I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to its outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.

22Then the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before Yahweh.

23Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

24Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city. Will you indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are within it?

25Far be it from you to do such a thing—to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous would be like the wicked. Far be it from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?

26And Yahweh said, “If I find fifty righteous people within the city of Sodom, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27Then Abraham answered and said, “Behold, please, I have dared to speak to my Lord, though I am dust and ashes.”

28Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking—will you destroy the whole city for five? And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

29He spoke to him again and said, “Perhaps forty will be found there.” And he said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”

30Then he said, “Please, let not my Lord be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there.” And he said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31Then he said, “See now, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord. Perhaps twenty will be found there.” And he said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

32Then he said, “Please, let not my lord be angry, and I will speak only this once more. Perhaps ten will be found there.” And he said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

33Then Yahweh went his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.