15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the [a]punishment of the city.” 16 But he hesitated. So the men (A)grasped his hand and the hand of his wife and the [b]hands of his two daughters, because (B)the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out and put him outside the city. 17 When they had brought them outside, [c]one said, “(C)Escape for your life! (D)Do not look behind you, and do not stay [d]anywhere in the (E)surrounding area; escape to (F)the [e]mountains, or you will be swept away.” 18 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! 19 Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your compassion, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the [f]mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) [g]so that my life may be saved.” 21 And he said to him, “Behold, I grant you this [h]request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the town was named [i](G)Zoar.

23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord (H)rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven,

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 19:15 Or wrongdoing
  2. Genesis 19:16 Lit hand
  3. Genesis 19:17 Lit he
  4. Genesis 19:17 Lit in all the circle
  5. Genesis 19:17 Lit mountain
  6. Genesis 19:19 Lit mountain
  7. Genesis 19:20 Lit and my soul will live
  8. Genesis 19:21 Lit thing
  9. Genesis 19:22 I.e., small

15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away(A) when the city is punished.(B)

16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters(C) and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.(D) 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives!(E) Don’t look back,(F) and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!(G) Flee to the mountains(H) or you will be swept away!”

18 But Lot said to them, “No, my lords,[a] please! 19 Your[b] servant has found favor in your[c] eyes,(I) and you[d] have shown great kindness(J) to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains;(K) this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. 20 Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”

21 He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request(L) too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22 But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.[e](M))

23 By the time Lot reached Zoar,(N) the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur(O) on Sodom and Gomorrah(P)—from the Lord out of the heavens.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 19:18 Or No, Lord; or No, my lord
  2. Genesis 19:19 The Hebrew is singular.
  3. Genesis 19:19 The Hebrew is singular.
  4. Genesis 19:19 The Hebrew is singular.
  5. Genesis 19:22 Zoar means small.