16 Then the three men got up to leave and looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to see them off. 17 Then Yahweh said to himself, “Should I hide what I’m about to do from Abraham? 18 His descendants are certainly going to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him and them, 19 because I’m aware that he’ll command his children and his household after him, and they’ll follow Yahweh’s path by their right and just behaviour, so that Yahweh will bring about for Abraham what he’s said to him.”

20 Then Yahweh said, “Because there’s so many people crying out about Sodom and Gomorrah, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I’ll go down there now and see if what I’ve heard about them is true, and if not, I’ll also find that out.”

22 Then the other two men left and starting descending toward Sodom, and Abraham was still standing there in front of Yahweh, 23 so he went closer to Yahweh and asked, “Will you really destroy obedient people along with those who’re evil? 24 What if there were fifty people in the city who’ve obeyed you? Would you really destroy the city and all its people and not save it for the sake of those fifty? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do anything like that—killing the good people along with the evil ones, so that they all just get treated the same? Certainly you wouldn’t do that? Wouldn’t the one who judges the entire world be more fair?”

26 “If I find fifty godly people in Sodom,” Yahweh answered, “then I’ll spare the whole city for their sake.”

27 “Listen, I’ve been bold enough to question my master, even though I’m just dust and ashes,” Abraham said again. 28 “Suppose they’re five short of the fifty? Would you destroy the whole city because of five?”

“I won’t destroy it if I find forty-five there,” he replied.

29 Abraham continued to make his request, “Suppose there’s forty there?”

“I won’t do it for the sake of the forty,” he agreed.

30 My master, don’t get angry but let me speak,” Abraham said, “suppose thirty are found there?”

“I won’t do it if I find thirty-five there,” he said.

31 “Listen, I’ve taken it upon myself to speak to my master,” Abraham asked again, “suppose twenty are found there?”

“I won’t do it for the sake of the twenty,” he agreed.

32 “My master, don’t get angry and let me speak one last time,” Abraham added, “suppose ten are found there?”

“I won’t do it for the sake of the ten,” Yahweh conceded 33 and then he left and Abraham returned home.