Genesis 18:20-33

New King James Version

²⁰And the Lord said, “Because ^(A)the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their ^(B)sin is very grave, ²¹^(C)I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, ^(D)I will know.”

²²Then the men turned away from there ^(E)and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³And Abraham ^(F)came near and said, ^(G)“Would You also ^(H)destroy the ^(I)righteous with the wicked? ²⁴Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so ^(J)that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! ^(K)Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶So the Lord said, ^(L)“If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am ^(M)but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

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

²⁹And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

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

³⁰Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

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

³¹And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

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

³²Then he said, ^(N)“Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

^(O)And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” ³³So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

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Genesis 18:20-33

Young's Literal Translation

²⁰And Jehovah saith, `The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah -- because great; and their sin -- because exceeding grievous:

²¹I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely -- and if not -- I know;'

²²and the men turn from thence, and go towards Sodom; and Abraham is yet standing before Jehovah.

²³And Abraham draweth nigh and saith, `Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked?

²⁴peradventure there are fifty righteous in the midst of the city; dost Thou also consume, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty -- the righteous who [are] in its midst?

²⁵Far be it from Thee to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked; that it hath been -- as the righteous so the wicked -- far be it from Thee; doth the Judge of all the earth not do justice?'

²⁶And Jehovah saith, `If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the midst of the city, then have I borne with all the place for their sake.'

²⁷And Abraham answereth and saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord, and I -- dust and ashes;

²⁸peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous -- dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, `I destroy [it] not, if I find there forty and five.'

²⁹And he addeth again to speak unto Him and saith, `Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith, `I do [it] not, because of the forty.'

³⁰And he saith, `Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, `I do [it] not, if I find there thirty.'

³¹And he saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there twenty?' and He saith, `I do not destroy [it], because of the twenty.'

³²And he saith, `Let it not be, I pray Thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak only this time: peradventure there are found there ten?' and He saith, `I do not destroy [it], because of the ten.'

³³And Jehovah goeth on, when He hath finished speaking unto Abraham, and Abraham hath turned back to his place.

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Genesis 18:20-33

New American Standard Bible

²⁰And the Lord said, “^(A)The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. ²¹I will ^(B)go down now and see whether they have done entirely as the outcry, which has come to Me indicates; and if not, I will know.”

Abraham Appeals for Sodom

²²Then ^(C)the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before ^(D)the Lord. ²³Abraham approached and said, “^(E)Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not ^[a]spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? ²⁵Far be it from You to do ^[b]such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not ^(F)the Judge of all the earth ^[c]deal justly?” ²⁶So the Lord said, “^(G)If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will ^[d]spare the entire place on their account.” ²⁷And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ^[e]ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am only ^(H)dust and ashes. ²⁸Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the entire city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” ²⁹And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” ³⁰Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” ³¹And he said, “Now behold, I have ^[f]ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” ³²Then he said, “^(I)Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once: suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” ³³As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham ^(J)the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his place.