Abraham Pleads for Sodom

¹⁶The men got up from there and turned their gaze toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off. ¹⁷The LORD said, "Should I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do?" ¹⁸"Abraham will certainly become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him." ¹⁹For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken of him. ²⁰Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is enormous, and their sin is extremely severe." ²¹I will go down now and see if their actions fully match the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will find out. ²²The men turned from there and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. ²³Abraham stepped closer and said, "Will you really sweep away the righteous along with the wicked?" ²⁴"What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you still destroy it rather than spare the place 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 with the wicked, treating the righteous the same as the wicked. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" ²⁶The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the entire place for their sake." ²⁷Abraham spoke up again: "I realize I have been bold enough to speak to the LORD, even though I am nothing but dust and ashes." ²⁸"What if the fifty righteous are short by five? Will you destroy the whole city because of five?" He answered, "If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it." ²⁹Abraham spoke to him once more: "What if only forty are found there?" He replied, "I will not do it for the sake of forty." ³⁰Then Abraham said, "Please, do not let the LORD be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty are found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." ³¹Abraham said, "I know I have been bold to speak to the LORD, but what if only twenty are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty." ³²Then Abraham said, "Please, do not let the LORD be angry, and I will speak just one more time. What if only ten are found there?" He answered, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." ³³When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, and Abraham went back home.