⁵ When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.^(A) Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering^(B) for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned^(C) and cursed God^(D) in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters^(A) were feasting^(B) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind^(C) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^(D) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^(E)”

¹³ because we^(A) are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great^(B) that he has sent us to destroy it.”^(C)

¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry^[a] his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!^(D)” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.^(E)

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^(F) when the city is punished.^(G)”

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

¹⁸ But Lot said to them, “No, my lords,^[b] please! ¹⁹ Your^[c] servant has found favor in your^[d] eyes,^(N) and you^[e] have shown great kindness^(O) to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains;^(P) 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^(Q) 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.^[f](R))

²³ By the time Lot reached Zoar,^(S) the sun had risen over the land. ²⁴ Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur^(T) on Sodom and Gomorrah^(U)—from the Lord out of the heavens.^{(V) 25} Thus he overthrew those cities^(W) and the entire plain,^(X) destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land.^(Y)

¹³ Now the people of Sodom^(A) were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.^(B)