{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/jps/gen18.htm","path":"bib/jps/gen18.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/jps/gen18.htm","text":"1 And HaShem appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;\n2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth,\n3 and said: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.\n4 Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree.\n5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.'\n6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'\n7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.\n8 And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.\n9 And they said unto him: 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, in the tent.'\n10 And He said: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.--\n11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.--\n12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'\n13 And HaShem said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?\n14 Is any thing too hard for HaShem. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.'\n15 Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'\n16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.\n17 And HaShem said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;\n18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?\n19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of HaShem, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that HaShem may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.'\n20 And HaShem said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous.\n21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.'\n22 And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before HaShem.\n23 And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?\n24 Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?\n25 That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee; shall not the judge of all the earth do justly?'\n26 And HaShem said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake.'\n27 And Abraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the L-rd, who am but dust and ashes.\n28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.'\n29 And he spoke unto Him yet again, and said: 'Peradventure there shall be forty found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'\n30 And he said: 'Oh, let not the L-rd be angry, and I will speak. Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it, if I find thirty there.'\n31 And he said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the L-rd. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.'\n32 And he said: 'Oh, let not the L-rd be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'\n33 And HaShem went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.","title":"Genesis 18","type":"page"}