¹⁵ There they stopped to spend the night.^(A) They went and sat in the city square,^(B) but no one took them in for the night.

¹⁸ He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord.^[a](A) No one has taken me in for the night.

² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,^(A) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.^(B)

⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,^(A)

² “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet^(A) and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”

“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”^(B)

³ But he insisted^(C) so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house.^(D) He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast,^(E) and they ate.^(F)

² Abraham looked up^(A) and saw three men^(B) standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.^(C)

³ He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(D) my lord,^[a] do not pass your servant^(E) by. ⁴ Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet^(F) and rest under this tree. ⁵ Let me get you something to eat,^(G) 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.”^(H)

⁷ Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf^(I) and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. ⁸ He then brought some curds^(J) and milk^(K) and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.^(L) While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.