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          DASV: Genesis 18    

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre,
as he sat by the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day.
2 He lifted up his eyes and saw three men standing near him.
When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the entrance
of the tent, and bowed down to the ground.
3 He said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes,
do not pass by your servant.
4 Let a little water be brought, so you can wash your feet
and rest under the tree.
5 And let me fetch a little bread, so you may refresh yourselves
before continuing on, since you have visited your servant."
And they said, "All right do as you have said."

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quick.
Take three measures of fine flour. Knead it and make bread."
7 Then Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good,
and gave it to a servant who quickly prepared it.
8 Then he took curds and milk along with the calf he had prepared,
and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he replied,
"There, in the tent."
10 Then one of them said, "I will certainly return to you at this
time next year; and Sarah, your wife, will have a son."
And Sarah was listening by the entrance of the tent behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well on in years.
Sarah was long past the age of childbearing.
12 So Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "Can a worn-out woman
and a old man finally have this pleasure?"
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying,
'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'
14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? When I return to you next year
at this time, Sarah will have a son."
15 But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid.
Then he said, "No, you did laugh."

16 Then the men got up from the meal and looked out toward Sodom.
And Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,
18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation,
and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?
19 For I have chosen him, so that he may instruct his children and
his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD,
to do righteousness and justice; so that the LORD may bring upon
Abraham what he has promised him."
20 So the LORD said, "Because the cry against Sodom and Gomorrah
is great, and because their sin is so grievous;
21 I will go down and see if they are as bad as the outcry against
them that has come to me. If not, then I will know."

22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham
still stood in front of the LORD.
23 Abraham approached him and said, "Will you really sweep away
the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are fifty righteous in the city, will you sweep it
away and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are in it?
25 Surely you will not do such a thing, to slay the righteous with
the wicked, so that the righteous are treated like the wicked.
Far be it from you. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
26 Then the LORD replied, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous inside
the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake."
27 Then Abraham answered, "Since I have been so bold to speak
to the Lord, I, who am but dust and ashes,
28 what if five of the fifty righteous are lacking, will you destroy
all the city for lack of five?" Then he said, "I will not destroy it,
if I find there forty-five."
29 Again he spoke to him, "What if there are only forty found there?"
And he said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty."
30 Then he said, "Please, Lord, do not get angry if I speak,
what if there are thirty found there?" And he said,
"I will not do it, if I find thirty there."
31 Then he said, "Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord,
what if there are twenty found there." And he said,
"I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."
32 Finally Abraham said, "Oh, let the Lord not be angry,
but I will speak one more time, what if ten are found there."
And he said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten."
33 Then the LORD went on his way after he had finished speaking
with Abraham. And Abraham returned to his place.

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