Genesis 18:14-24

Do you think there is anything too marvelous for YAHWEH? I will appear to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son!” Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I wasn’t laughing.” But he said, “Yes, you were!” Afterward, the three men departed and walked toward Sodom, and Abraham went off with them to see them on their way. As they walked, YAHWEH said, “Should I really hide from Abraham what I intend to do? After all, he will become a great and powerful nation, and every nation on earth will seek bliss like his. It is true; I have singled him out as my own, so that he will lead his family and household to follow my ways and live by what is right and just. I will fulfill all the promises that I have spoken to him.” YAHWEH explained to Abraham, “The outcry for justice against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant that I must go down and see if their wicked actions are as great as the outrage that has come to me, and if not, then I will know.” As YAHWEH’s two companions went on toward Sodom, Abraham remained there, as YAHWEH paused before Abraham. So Abraham came forward to present his case before YAHWEH, and said, “Are you really going to sweep away the righteous while you judge the wicked? What if you find fifty righteous people in Sodom? Isn’t your mercy great enough to forgive? Why judge the entire city at the cost of the fifty righteous who live there?