²⁰ Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom^(A) and Gomorrah is so great^(B) and their sin so grievous^{(C) 21} that I will go down^(D) and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

²² The men^(E) turned away and went toward Sodom,^(F) but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.^{[a](G) 23} Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?^{(H) 24} What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare^[b] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?^{(I) 25} Far be it from you to do such a thing^(J)—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous^(K) and the wicked alike.^(L) Far be it from you! Will not the Judge^(M) of all the earth do right?”^(N)

²⁶ The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.^(O)”

²⁷ Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,^{(P) 28} what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

³⁰ Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry,^(Q) but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

³² Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more.^(R) What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten,^(S) I will not destroy it.”

Psalm 138

Of David.