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[1]And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
[2]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,
[3]And said: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.
[4]Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree.
[5]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.'
[6]And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'
[7]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.
[8]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.
[9]And they said unto him: 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, in the tent.'
[10]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.—
[11]Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.—
[12]And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'
[13]And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
[14]Is any thing too hard for 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.'
[15]Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'
[16]And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
[17]And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which 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 have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.'
[20]And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous.
[21]I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogethe according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.'
[22]And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇.
[23]And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
[24]Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fi righteous that are therein?
[25]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?'
[26]And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake.'
[27]And Abraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
[28]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.'
[29]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.'
[30]And he said: 'Oh, let not the Lord 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.'
[31]And he said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.'
[32]And he said: 'Oh, let not the Lord 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.'
[33]And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.
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