Genesis 18:23-33

Complete Jewish Bible

²³ Avraham approached and said, “Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Maybe there are fifty righteous people in the city; will you actually sweep the place away, and not forgive it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are there? ²⁵ Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn’t the judge of all the earth do what is just?” ²⁶ Adonai said, “If I find in S’dom fifty who are righteous, then I will forgive the whole place for their sake.”

²⁷ Avraham answered, “Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. ²⁸ What if there are five less than fifty righteous?” He said, “I won’t destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

²⁹ He spoke to him yet again: “What if forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the forty I won’t do it.”

³⁰ He said, “I hope Adonai won’t be angry if I speak. What if thirty are found there?” He said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ He said, “Here now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. What if twenty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the twenty I won’t destroy it.”

³² He said, “I hope Adonai won’t be angry if I speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the ten I won’t destroy it.” ³³ Adonai went on his way as soon as he had finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place.