創世記 18
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional)
亞伯拉罕接待天使
18 耶和華在幔利橡樹那裡，向亞伯拉罕顯現出來。那時正熱，亞伯拉罕坐在帳篷門口， 2 舉目觀看，見有三個人在對面站著。他一見，就從帳篷門口跑去迎接他們，俯伏在地， 3 說：「我主，我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你不要離開僕人往前去。 4 容我拿點水來，你們洗洗腳，在樹下歇息歇息。 5 我再拿一點餅來，你們可以加添心力，然後往前去。你們既到僕人這裡來，理當如此。」他們說：「就照你說的行吧。」 6 亞伯拉罕急忙進帳篷見撒拉，說：「你速速拿三細亞細麵調和做餅。」 7 亞伯拉罕又跑到牛群裡，牽了一隻又嫩又好的牛犢來，交給僕人，僕人急忙預備好了。 8 亞伯拉罕又取了奶油和奶，並預備好的牛犢來，擺在他們面前，自己在樹下站在旁邊，他們就吃了。
應許撒拉生子
9 他們問亞伯拉罕說：「你妻子撒拉在哪裡？」他說：「在帳篷裡。」 10 三人中有一位說：「到明年這時候，我必要回到你這裡，你的妻子撒拉必生一個兒子。」撒拉在那人後邊的帳篷門口也聽見了這話。 11 亞伯拉罕和撒拉年紀老邁，撒拉的月經已斷絕了。 12 撒拉心裡暗笑，說：「我既已衰敗，我主也老邁，豈能有這喜事呢？」 13 耶和華對亞伯拉罕說：「撒拉為什麼暗笑，說：『我既已年老，果真能生養嗎？』 14 耶和華豈有難成的事嗎？到了日期，明年這時候，我必回到你這裡，撒拉必生一個兒子。」 15 撒拉就害怕，不承認，說：「我沒有笑。」那位說：「不然，你實在笑了。」
16 三人就從那裡起行，向所多瑪觀看，亞伯拉罕也與他們同行，要送他們一程。 17 耶和華說：「我所要做的事，豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢？ 18 亞伯拉罕必要成為強大的國，地上的萬國都必因他得福。 19 我眷顧他，為要叫他吩咐他的眾子和他的眷屬，遵守我的道，秉公行義，使我所應許亞伯拉罕的話都成就了。」
神將滅所多瑪蛾摩拉
20 耶和華說：「所多瑪和蛾摩拉的罪惡甚重，聲聞於我。 21 我現在要下去，察看他們所行的，果然盡像那達到我耳中的聲音一樣嗎？若是不然，我也必知道。」
亞伯拉罕為所多瑪祈求
22 二人轉身離開那裡，向所多瑪去，但亞伯拉罕仍舊站在耶和華面前。 23 亞伯拉罕近前來，說：「無論善惡，你都要剿滅嗎？ 24 假若那城裡有五十個義人，你還剿滅那地方嗎？不為城裡這五十個義人饒恕其中的人嗎？ 25 將義人與惡人同殺，將義人與惡人一樣看待，這斷不是你所行的！審判全地的主，豈不行公義嗎？」 26 耶和華說：「我若在所多瑪城裡見有五十個義人，我就為他們的緣故饒恕那地方的眾人。」 27 亞伯拉罕說：「我雖然是灰塵，還敢對主說話。 28 假若這五十個義人短了五個，你就因為短了五個毀滅全城嗎？」他說：「我在那裡若見有四十五個，也不毀滅那城。」 29 亞伯拉罕又對他說：「假若在那裡見有四十個怎麼樣呢？」他說：「為這四十個的緣故，我也不做這事。」 30 亞伯拉罕說：「求主不要動怒，容我說，假若在那裡見有三十個怎麼樣呢？」他說：「我在那裡若見有三十個，我也不做這事。」 31 亞伯拉罕說：「我還敢對主說話，假若在那裡見有二十個怎麼樣呢？」他說：「為這二十個的緣故，我也不毀滅那城。」 32 亞伯拉罕說：「求主不要動怒，我再說這一次，假若在那裡見有十個呢？」他說：「為這十個的緣故，我也不毀滅那城。」 33 耶和華與亞伯拉罕說完了話就走了，亞伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。
Genesis 18
English Standard Version
18 And the Lord appeared to him by the (A)oaks[a] of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. (B)When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord,[b] if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a (C)little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that (D)you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—(E)since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs[c] of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is (F)in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you (G)about this time next year, and (H)Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now (I)Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 (J)So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, (K)“After I am worn out, and (L)my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 (M)Is anything too hard[d] for the Lord? (N)At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it,[e] saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, (O)“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be (P)blessed in him? 19 For I have (Q)chosen[f] him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because (R)the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 (S)I will go down to see whether they have done altogether[g] according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, (T)I will know.”
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
22 (U)So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham (V)still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, (W)“Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, (X)so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! (Y)Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, (Z)“If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered and said, (AA)“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, (AB)“Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:1 Or terebinths
- Genesis 18:3 Or My lord
- Genesis 18:6 A seah was about 7.7 quarts or 7.3 liters
- Genesis 18:14 Or wonderful
- Genesis 18:15 Or acted falsely
- Genesis 18:19 Hebrew known
- Genesis 18:21 Or they deserve destruction; Hebrew they have made a complete end
Genesis 18
Amplified Bible
Birth of Isaac Promised
18 Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre [in Hebron], while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he raised his eyes and looked up, behold, three men were standing [a little distance] from him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down [with his face] to the ground, 3 and Abraham said, “My [a]lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit]. 4 Please let a little water be brought [by one of my servants] and [you may] wash your feet, and recline and rest comfortably under the tree. 5 And I will bring a piece of bread to refresh and sustain [b]you; after that you may go on, since you have come to your servant.” And they replied, “Do as you have said.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, get ready three [c]measures of fine meal, knead it and bake cakes.” 7 Abraham also ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and choice, and he gave it to the servant [to butcher], and he hurried to prepare it. 8 Then he took [d]curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before the men; and he stood beside them under the tree while they ate.
9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this [e]time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.(A) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the Lord’s words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband) being also old?”(B) 13 And the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the [f]Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.”(C) 15 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh”; because she was afraid. And He (the Lord) said, “No, but you did laugh.”
16 Then the men got up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham walked with them to send them on the way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do,(D) 18 since Abraham [g]is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?(E) 19 For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.” 20 And the Lord said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”
22 Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Abraham approached [the Lord] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous [people] within the city; will You really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from You to do [h]such a thing—to strike the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right [by executing just and righteous judgment]?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty righteous [people], then I will spare the entire place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “Now behold, I who am but dust [in origin] and ashes have decided to speak to the Lord.(F) 28 If five of the fifty righteous are lacking, will You destroy the entire city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find [at least] forty-five [righteous people] there, I will not destroy it.” 29 Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].” 30 Then Abraham said [to Him], “Oh, may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak; suppose thirty [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 And he said, “Now behold, I have decided to speak to the Lord [again]. Suppose [only] twenty [righteous people] are found there?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 32 Then Abraham said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry [with me], and I will speak only this once; suppose ten [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 33 As soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his own place.
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:3 At some point during this encounter, Abraham understood that one of the three men was actually God appearing as a man (or as an angel; cf note 16:7), and he addressed Him as such in v 14. Verse 13 confirms that it was the Lord who spoke to him. The other two men were angels.
- Genesis 18:5 Lit your heart.
- Genesis 18:6 Heb seim, plural of seah; since one seah equals about nine quarts, this was a large quantity. However, Abraham was asking Sarah to make cakes of bread which actually could be baked quickly because they were similar to pizza dough, that is, large, round, and flat. Together with the other food that Abraham provided (vv 7, 8), his promise of “a piece of bread” in v 5 was greatly understated, and the generous meal reflected the respect that he held for his special visitors.
- Genesis 18:8 Or sour milk, or perhaps butter. It may have served as a kind of condiment for the bread.
- Genesis 18:10 Lit when the time revives. Some regard this as a reference to springtime. Others think it means “the time when the life is ready.”
- Genesis 18:14 The divine Hebrew name YHWH (Yahweh), usually represented by “Lord,” occurs more than 5,000 times in the Bible.
- Genesis 18:18 Lit will surely.
- Genesis 18:25 Lit according to this word.
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