The Three Visitors 1 UDB One day during that year, at the time of day when it was hot, Yahweh appeared to Abraham again near the big trees that belonged to Mamre. Abraham was sitting in the entrance to his tent. BSB BSB: Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.
2 UDB Abraham looked up and was surprised to see three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them. He prostrated himself with his face on the ground in respect. BSB BSB: And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3 UDB He said to one of them, "Lord, if you are pleased with me, your servant, then stay here for a little while. BSB BSB: “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.
4 UDB Allow my servants to bring a little water and wash your feet, and then rest under this tree. BSB BSB: Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
5 UDB Since you have come here to me, your servant, allow me to bring you some food so that you can gain strength before you leave." The men replied, "All right, do as you have said." BSB BSB: And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”
6 UDB Then Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick, get twenty kilograms of our best flour and make some bread!" BSB BSB: So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and bake some bread.”
7 UDB Then he ran to the herd of cattle and selected a calf whose meat would be tender and tasty. He gave it to one of his servants, who hurried to kill and cook it. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8 UDB When the meat was cooked, Abraham brought some curds, milk, and the meat that the servant had prepared. He placed them in front of them. Then he stood near them under a tree while they ate. BSB BSB: Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.
Sarah Laughs at the Promise 9 UDB After they ate, they asked him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?" He replied, "She is in the tent." BSB BSB: “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked. “There, in the tent,” he replied.
10 UDB Then the leader of the group said, "I will return to you in the springtime next year, and listen, your wife Sarah will have an infant son." It happened that Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind the man who was speaking. BSB BSB: Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was behind him, listening at the entrance to the tent.
11 UDB Now Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was far past the time of childbearing. BSB BSB: And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
12 UDB So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "My body is worn out, and my husband is old. So how can I have the pleasure of having a baby?" BSB BSB: So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
13 UDB Yahweh said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why was she thinking, 'I am too old, so how can I bear a child'? BSB BSB: And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’
14 UDB Is there anything too difficult for me? I will return about this time next year in the springtime, the time I have fixed, and Sarah will have an infant son." BSB BSB: Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
15 UDB Then Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But Yahweh said, "Do not deny it! You did laugh." BSB BSB: But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it and said, “I did not laugh.” “No,” replied the LORD, “but you did laugh.”
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom 16 UDB When the three men got up to leave, they looked down into the valley toward the city of Sodom. Abraham was walking with them to say "Farewell" to them. BSB BSB: When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off.
17 UDB Yahweh said to himself, "It is not right for me to prevent Abraham from knowing what I plan to do. BSB BSB: And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18 UDB Abraham's descendants will become a great and powerful people. And all the peoples of the earth will be blessed because of what I do for him. BSB BSB: Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
19 UDB I have chosen him in order that he will direct his children and their families so that they will obey me and do what is right and fair, so that I will do for Abraham what I have promised to do for him." BSB BSB: For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
20 UDB So Yahweh said to Abraham, "I have heard the terrible things that some people have been saying about the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sins are very great. BSB BSB: Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous,
21 UDB So I will go down now, and I will see if all the terrible things that I have heard are true or not true." BSB BSB: I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
23 UDB Abraham came closer to him and said, "Will you really destroy people who have done nothing wrong along with the wicked ones? BSB BSB: Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 UDB What will you do if there are fifty people in the city who have done nothing wrong? Will you really destroy them all, and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people who have done nothing wrong? BSB BSB: What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there?
26 UDB Yahweh replied, "If I find fifty people in Sodom who have done nothing wrong, I will spare the whole place for their sake." BSB BSB: So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”
27 UDB Abraham replied, "I should not be bold like this and speak to you, my Lord, because I am as worthless as dust and ashes. BSB BSB: Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—
28 UDB But what will you do if there are only forty-five people who have done nothing wrong? Will you destroy everyone in the whole city because there are only forty-five and not fifty good people?" Yahweh replied, "I will not destroy it if I find that there are forty-five good people." BSB BSB: suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”
29 UDB Abraham continued to speak to him like this, saying, "What will you do if you find that there are only forty good people there?" Yahweh replied, "I will not destroy them all, for the sake of the forty." BSB BSB: Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.”
30 UDB Abraham said, "Please do not be angry now. Let me speak again. What will you do if there are only thirty good people?" He replied, "I will not do it if I find that there are thirty there." BSB BSB: Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”
31 UDB Abraham said, "I should not be bold and speak to you like this, my Lord. But what will you do if you find that there are only twenty good people there?" He replied, "I will not destroy the whole city, for the sake of those twenty." BSB BSB: And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”
32 UDB Finally, Abraham said, "My Lord, do not be angry now. Just let me speak one time more. What will you do if you find that there are only ten good people there?" Yahweh answered, "I will not destroy the city for the sake of those ten." BSB BSB: Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”
33 UDB Abraham said no more. As soon as Yahweh finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham went home. BSB BSB: When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.