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Genesis 18
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Genesis 18
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Abraham’s Three Visitors
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre(A) while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. 2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him.(B) When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, 3 and said, ‘My lord, if I have found favour with you, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.’
‘Yes,’ they replied, ‘do as you have said.’
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, ‘Quick! Knead three measures[a] of fine flour and make bread.’[b] 7 Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then Abraham took curds[c] and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served[d] them as they ate under the tree.
Sarah Laughs
9 ‘Where is your wife Sarah? ’ they asked him.
‘There, in the tent,’ he answered.
10 The Lord said, ‘I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son! ’(C) Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.[e] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.(D) 12 So she laughed to herself: ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight? ’(E)
13 But the Lord asked Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old? ’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord?(F) At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.’
15 Sarah denied it. ‘I did not laugh,’ she said, because she was afraid.
But he replied, ‘No, you did laugh.’
Abraham’s Plea for Sodom
16 The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off. 17 Then the Lord said, ‘Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?(G) 18 Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.(H) 19 For I have chosen[f] him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfil to Abraham what he promised him.’ 20 Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. 21 I will go down(I) to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.’
22 The men turned from there and went towards Sodom(J) while Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[g] 23 Abraham stepped forward and said, ‘Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?(K) 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who are in it? 25 You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just? ’(L)
26 The Lord said, ‘If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.’(M)
27 Then Abraham answered, ‘Since I have ventured to speak to my lord – even though I am dust and ashes – 28 suppose the fifty righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five? ’
He replied, ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’
29 Then he spoke to him again, ‘Suppose forty are found there? ’
He answered, ‘I will not do it on account of forty.’
30 Then he said, ‘Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose thirty are found there? ’
He answered, ‘I will not do it if I find thirty there.’
31 Then he said, ‘Since I have ventured to speak to my lord, suppose twenty are found there? ’
He replied, ‘I will not destroy it on account of twenty.’
32 Then he said, ‘Let my lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time.(N) Suppose ten are found there? ’
He answered, ‘I will not destroy it on account of ten.’ 33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, and Abraham returned to his place.
Génesis 18
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)
Génesis 18
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)
La visita del Señor
18 El Señor se le apareció a Abraham junto al encinar de Mamré, cuando Abraham estaba sentado a la entrada de su tienda, a la hora más calurosa del día. 2 Abraham alzó la vista, y vio a tres hombres de pie cerca de él. Al verlos, corrió desde la entrada de la tienda a saludarlos. Inclinándose hasta el suelo, 3 dijo:
―Mi señor, si este tu siervo cuenta con tu favor, te ruego que no pases de largo. 4 Haré que os traigan un poco de agua para que os lavéis los pies, y luego podréis descansar bajo el árbol. 5 Ya que habéis pasado por donde está vuestro siervo, dejadme traeros algo de comer para que os sintáis mejor antes de seguir vuestro camino.
―¡Está bien —respondieron ellos—, hazlo así!
6 Abraham fue rápidamente a la tienda donde estaba Sara y le dijo:
―¡Date prisa! Toma unos veinte kilos[a] de harina fina, amásalos y haz unos panes.
7 Después Abraham fue corriendo adonde estaba el ganado, eligió un ternero bueno y tierno, y se lo dio a su sirviente, quien a toda prisa se puso a prepararlo. 8 Luego les sirvió requesón y leche con el ternero que estaba preparado. Mientras comían, Abraham se quedó de pie junto a ellos, debajo del árbol. 9 Entonces ellos le preguntaron:
―¿Dónde está Sara, tu esposa?
―Allí en la tienda —les respondió.
10 ―Dentro de un año volveré a verte —dijo uno de ellos—, y para entonces tu esposa Sara tendrá un hijo.
Sara estaba escuchando a la entrada de la tienda, a espaldas del que hablaba. 11 Abraham y Sara eran ya bastante ancianos, y Sara ya había dejado de menstruar. 12 Por eso, Sara se rio y pensó: «¿Acaso voy a tener este placer, ahora que ya estoy consumida y mi esposo es tan viejo?» 13 Pero el Señor le dijo a Abraham:
―¿Por qué se ríe Sara? ¿No cree que podrá tener un hijo en su vejez? 14 ¿Acaso hay algo imposible para el Señor? El año que viene volveré a visitarte en esta fecha, y para entonces Sara habrá tenido un hijo.
15 Sara, por su parte, tuvo miedo y mintió al decirle:
―Yo no me estaba riendo.
Pero el Señor le replicó:
―Sí te reíste.
Abraham intercede en favor de Sodoma
16 Luego aquellos visitantes se levantaron y partieron de allí en dirección a Sodoma. Abraham los acompañó para despedirlos. 17 Pero el Señor estaba pensando: «¿Le ocultaré a Abraham lo que voy a hacer? 18 Es un hecho que Abraham se convertirá en una nación grande y poderosa, y en él serán bendecidas todas las naciones de la tierra. 19 Yo lo he elegido para que instruya a sus hijos y a su familia, a fin de que se mantengan en el camino del Señor y pongan en práctica lo que es justo y recto. Así el Señor cumplirá lo que le ha prometido».
20 Entonces el Señor le dijo a Abraham:
―El clamor contra Sodoma y Gomorra resulta ya insoportable, y su pecado es gravísimo. 21 Por eso bajaré, a ver si realmente sus acciones son tan malas como el clamor contra ellas me lo indica; y, si no, he de saberlo.
22 Dos de los visitantes partieron de allí y se encaminaron a Sodoma, pero Abraham se quedó de pie frente al Señor. 23 Entonces se acercó al Señor y le dijo:
―¿De veras vas a exterminar al justo junto con el malvado? 24 Quizá haya cincuenta justos en la ciudad. ¿Exterminarás a todos, y no perdonarás a ese lugar por amor a los cincuenta justos que allí hay? 25 ¡Lejos de ti el hacer tal cosa! ¿Matar al justo junto con el malvado, y que ambos sean tratados de la misma manera? ¡Jamás hagas tal cosa! Tú, que eres el Juez de toda la tierra, ¿no harás justicia?
26 El Señor le respondió:
―Si encuentro cincuenta justos en Sodoma, por ellos perdonaré a toda la ciudad.
27 Abraham le dijo:
―Reconozco que he sido muy atrevido al dirigirme a mi Señor, yo, que apenas soy polvo y ceniza. 28 Pero tal vez falten cinco justos para completar los cincuenta. ¿Destruirás toda la ciudad si faltan esos cinco?
―Si encuentro cuarenta y cinco justos, no la destruiré —contestó el Señor.
29 Pero Abraham insistió:
―Tal vez se encuentren solo cuarenta.
―Por esos cuarenta justos, no destruiré la ciudad —respondió el Señor.
30 Abraham volvió a insistir:
―No se enoje mi Señor, pero permítame seguir hablando. Tal vez se encuentren solo treinta.
―No lo haré si encuentro allí a esos treinta —contestó el Señor.
31 Abraham siguió insistiendo:
―Sé que he sido muy atrevido en hablarle así a mi Señor, pero tal vez se encuentren solo veinte.
―Por esos veinte no la destruiré.
32 Abraham volvió a decir:
―No se enoje mi Señor, pero permítame hablar una vez más. Tal vez se encuentren solo diez…
―Aun por esos diez no la destruiré —respondió el Señor por última vez.
33 Cuando el Señor terminó de hablar con Abraham, se fue de allí, y Abraham regresó a su tienda.
Footnotes
- 18:6 unos veinte kilos. Lit. tres seah.
Genesis 18
The Message
Genesis 18
The Message
18 1-2 God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.
3-5 He said, “Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant. I’ll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. I’ll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path.”
They said, “Certainly. Go ahead.”
6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, “Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread.”
7-8 Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate.
9 The men said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”
He said, “In the tent.”
10 One of them said, “I’m coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.
11-12 Abraham and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, “An old woman like me? Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?”
13-14 God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?’ Is anything too hard for God? I’ll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby.”
15 Sarah lied. She said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was afraid.
But he said, “Yes you did; you laughed.”
* * *
16 When the men got up to leave, they set off for Sodom. Abraham walked with them to say good-bye.
17-19 Then God said, “Shall I keep back from Abraham what I’m about to do? Abraham is going to become a large and strong nation; all the nations of the world are going to find themselves blessed through him. Yes, I’ve settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God’s way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him.”
20-21 God continued, “The cries of the victims in Sodom and Gomorrah are deafening; the sin of those cities is immense. I’m going down to see for myself, see if what they’re doing is as bad as it sounds. Then I’ll know.”
22 The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God’s path, blocking his way.
23-25 Abraham confronted him, “Are you serious? Are you planning on getting rid of the good people right along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent people left in the city; will you lump the good with the bad and get rid of the lot? Wouldn’t you spare the city for the sake of those fifty innocents? I can’t believe you’d do that, kill off the good and the bad alike as if there were no difference between them. Doesn’t the Judge of all the Earth judge with justice?”
26 God said, “If I find fifty decent people in the city of Sodom, I’ll spare the place just for them.”
27-28 Abraham came back, “Do I, a mere mortal made from a handful of dirt, dare open my mouth again to my Master? What if the fifty fall short by five—would you destroy the city because of those missing five?”
He said, “I won’t destroy it if there are forty-five.”
29 Abraham spoke up again, “What if you only find forty?”
“Neither will I destroy it if for forty.”
30 He said, “Master, don’t be irritated with me, but what if only thirty are found?”
“No, I won’t do it if I find thirty.”
31 He pushed on, “I know I’m trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?”
“I won’t destroy it for twenty.”
32 He wouldn’t quit, “Don’t get angry, Master—this is the last time. What if you only come up with ten?”
“For the sake of only ten, I won’t destroy the city.”
33 When God finished talking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham went home.
Genesis 18
New International Version
Genesis 18
New International Version
The Three Visitors
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham(A) near the great trees of Mamre(B) while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent(C) in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up(D) and saw three men(E) standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.(F)
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes,(G) my lord,[a] do not pass your servant(H) by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet(I) and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat,(J) so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”(K)
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf(L) and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds(M) and milk(N) and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.(O) While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
9 “Where is your wife Sarah?”(P) they asked him.
“There, in the tent,(Q)” he said.
10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,(R) and Sarah your wife will have a son.”(S)
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old,(T) and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.(U) 12 So Sarah laughed(V) to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord(W) is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’(X) 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?(Y) I will return to you at the appointed time next year,(Z) and Sarah will have a son.”(AA)
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Abraham Pleads for Sodom
16 When the men(AB) got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham(AC) what I am about to do?(AD) 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation,(AE) and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.[c] 19 For I have chosen him(AF), so that he will direct his children(AG) and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord(AH) by doing what is right and just,(AI) so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”(AJ)
20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom(AK) and Gomorrah is so great(AL) and their sin so grievous(AM) 21 that I will go down(AN) and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
22 The men(AO) turned away and went toward Sodom,(AP) but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[d](AQ) 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?(AR) 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?(AS) 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing(AT)—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous(AU) and the wicked alike.(AV) Far be it from you! Will not the Judge(AW) of all the earth do right?”(AX)
26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.(AY)”
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,(AZ) 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry,(BA) but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more.(BB) What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten,(BC) I will not destroy it.”
33 When the Lord had finished speaking(BD) with Abraham, he left,(BE) and Abraham returned home.(BF)
Footnotes
- Genesis 18:3 Or eyes, Lord
- Genesis 18:6 That is, probably about 36 pounds or about 16 kilograms
- Genesis 18:18 Or will use his name in blessings (see 48:20)
- Genesis 18:22 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition but the Lord remained standing before Abraham
- Genesis 18:24 Or forgive; also in verse 26
Genesis 18
King James Version
Genesis 18
King James Version
18 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
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