20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and (A)multiply him greatly. He (B)shall father twelve princes, and (C)I will make him into a great nation. 21 But (D)I will establish my covenant with Isaac, (E)whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, (F)God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

18 And the Lord appeared to him by the (G)oaks[a] of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. (H)When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord,[b] if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a (I)little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that (J)you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—(K)since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs[c] of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 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.

They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is (L)in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you (M)about this time next year, and (N)Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now (O)Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 (P)So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, (Q)“After I am worn out, and (R)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 (S)Is anything too hard[d] for the Lord? (T)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, (U)“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 (V)blessed in him?

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 18:1 Or terebinths
  2. Genesis 18:3 Or My lord
  3. Genesis 18:6 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters
  4. Genesis 18:14 Or wonderful
  5. Genesis 18:15 Or acted falsely

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