20 Then the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is exceedingly grievous,

21 I will [a]go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to that [b]cry, which is come unto me: and if not, that I may know.

22 And the men turned thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

23 Then Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 If there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt thou destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 Be it far from thee from doing this thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be even as the wicked, be it far from thee. Shall not the Judge of all the world [c]do right?

26 And the Lord answered, If I shall find in Sodom [d]fifty righteous within the city, then will I spare all the place for their sakes.

27 Then Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have begun to speak unto my Lord, and I am [e]but dust and ashes,

28 If there shall lack five of fifty righteous, wilt thou destroy all the city for five? And he said, If I find there five and forty, I will not destroy it.

29 And he yet spake to him again, and said, What if there shall be found forty there? Then he answered, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

30 Again he said, Let not my Lord now be angry that I speak, What if thirty be found there? Then he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31 Moreover he said, Behold now, I have begun to speak unto my Lord, What if twenty be found there? And he answered, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

32 Then he said, Let not my Lord be now angry, and I will speak but this [f]once, What if ten be found there? And he answered, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

33 ¶ And the Lord went his way, when he had left communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned unto his place.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 18:21 God speaketh after the fashion of men: that is, I will enter into judgment with good advice.
  2. Genesis 18:21 For our sins cry for vengeance, though none accuse us.
  3. Genesis 18:25 Hebrew, do judgment.
  4. Genesis 18:26 God declareth that his judgments were done with great mercy, forasmuch as all were so corrupt, that not only fifty but ten righteous men could not be found there, and also that the wicked are spared for the righteous’ sake.
  5. Genesis 18:27 Hereby we learn, that the nearer we approach unto God, the more doth our miserable estate appear, and the more are we humbled.
  6. Genesis 18:32 If God refused not the prayer for the wicked Sodomites, even to the sixth request, how much more will he grant the prayers of the godly for the afflicted Church?

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