Abraham Tries to Save the People of Sodom from Being Destroyed by Yahweh

18:16-33

16 When they had finished eating, the three men got up to leave and started walking down toward the city of Sodom. Abraham escorted them for a while to see them on their way. 17 Then Yahweh thought to himself, “Should I keep secret from Abraham what I am about to do to the city of Sodom? 18 After all, he and his descendants will definitely become a great and powerful people group, and through them I will bless all the people groups in the world. 19 In fact, I have chosen him so that he will train his children and his descendants, so that they will live the way I want them to live and do what is right and treat people justly. Therefore I will do for him everything I have promised him that I will do.”

20 So Yahweh said to Abraham, “I have heard that the people of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah have become very evil, and they are sinning very terribly. 21 I must go down to those cities now to determine whether or not they are guilty of everything that I have heard against them. If they are not guilty, then I will know it and I will not punish them.”

22 Then the other two men left and continued walking toward the city of Sodom, while Abraham remained there with Yahweh. 23 Then Abraham stepped closer to Yahweh and asked him, “Certainly you will not destroy righteous people along with wicked people, will you? 24 What will you do if there are fifty righteous people living in the city of Sodom? Will you really still destroy all the people in the city rather than let them all live because of the fifty righteous people who live there? 25 Certainly you would never do such a thing as kill righteous people together with evil people, so that you are treating them both the same way! Certainly you would never do such a thing! As the Judge over everyone on the earth, certainly you will treat people justly.” 26 Yahweh replied to him, “If there are fifty righteous people living in the city of Sodom, then I will spare the whole city and everyone who lives there because of them.”

27 Then Abraham spoke up again and asked Yahweh, “My Lord, please excuse me for speaking to you so boldly, even though I am as insignificant as dirt and ashes compared to you. 28 But what will you do if there are only forty-five righteous people in the city instead of fifty? Will you destroy the whole city and everyone in it if there are five people too few who are righteous?” Yahweh answered, “I will not destroy the city if there are forty-five righteous people living there.”

29 Then Abraham spoke again to Yahweh and asked, “What will you do if there are only forty righteous people in the city? Will you destroy it then?” Yahweh answered, “I will not destroy the city, in order to save the forty righteous people.”

30 Then Abraham pleaded with him, “My Lord, please do not be angry with me, but let me ask you another question: What will you do if there are only thirty righteous people living there?” He replied, “I will not destroy the city if there are thirty righteous people there.”

31 Then Abraham asked him, “My Lord, please excuse me for speaking to you so boldly. What will you do if there are only twenty righteous people living in the city?” Yahweh replied, “I will not destroy the city, in order to save the twenty righteous people.”

32 Then Abraham said, “My Lord, please do not be angry with me, but let me ask you just one more thing: What will you do if there are only ten righteous people in the city?” Yahweh answered him, “I will not destroy the city, in order to save the ten righteous people.” 33 When Yahweh had finished talking with Abraham, he left him, and Abraham returned home.