1 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Self-Revealer} appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the entrance {petach: threshold opening} of the tent in the heat of the day.
2 And he lifted his eyes {einav: deliberate attention} and saw; behold, three men were standing near him. As soon as he perceived them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed down {vayishtachu: deep respectful gesture} to the ground.
3 And he said, “My Lord {Adonai, Honored Visitor}, if now I have found favor {chen: gracious acceptance} in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant.”
4 Please, let a little water be brought, so you may wash your feet {ragleichem: feet as a sign of hospitality} and rest yourselves under the tree {haets: central place of shade}.
5 Let me bring a morsel of bread {pat-lechem: small portion offered} and refresh your hearts {lev: inner self}; afterward you may pass on, for this reason you have passed by your servant. And they said, “So do, as you have spoken.”
6 And Abraham hurried to the tent to Sarah, and he said, “Hurry {mahari: move quickly}, take three seahs of fine flour {solet: select quality}, knead it, and make cakes.”
7 And Abraham {Avraham: eager host} ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf {ben-bakar: young cattle}, and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8 And he took curds {chemah: cultured dairy} and milk {chalav: rich drink}, and the calf that he had prepared, and he placed it before them; and he stood over them under the tree, and they ate.
9 They inquired of Abraham, “Where is Sarah {Sarah: promised matriarch}, your wife?” And he answered, “Behold, she is within the tent {ohel: private dwelling}.”
10 And He {YHWH, Faithful Promiser} said, “Returning I will return to you at the appointed time {kaet: fixed season} of life; and behold, a son for Sarah your wife.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old {zekenim: advanced in age}, far along in days, and the way {orakh: menstrual cycle} of women had ceased to be for Sarah.
12 And Sarah laughed {tsachaq: quiet disbelief} inwardly, saying, “Once I have grown frail, shall I find pleasure {ednah: intimate delight}, when my lord himself is old?”
13 Then the LORD {YHWH, Promise Confirmer} spoke to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed {umnam: fully assured} bear a child, even though I have grown old?'"
14 Is anything too extraordinary for the LORD {YHWH, All-Powerful Promise Keeper}? At the appointed time {moed: divinely set season} I will return to you, at the time of life, and Sarah will have a son.
15 But Sarah denied {kachash: openly refused} it, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. Then He {YHWH, All-Knowing Witness} said, “No, but you did laugh.”
16 Then the men {anashim: visiting figures} rose up from there and looked out toward the face of Sodom, and Abraham walked with them to see them off {leshallekhm: respectful farewell}.
17 And the LORD {YHWH, All-Knowing Revealer} said, “Should I keep hidden from Abraham {Avraham: chosen covenant partner} what I am about to do?”
18 And Abraham {Avraham: Covenant Receiver} will surely become a great and mighty nation {goy gadol: covenant people}, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him.
19 For I have known him so that he may command his sons and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Guide}, by doing righteousness {tsedaqah: covenantal justice} and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken concerning him.
20 And the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} said, “Because the outcry {zaakat: anguished plea} of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their guilt is exceedingly weighty.”
21 I {YHWH, Just Investigator} will go down now and see whether they have acted completely according to the outcry {tsaakah: urgent justice-cry} that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men {haanashim: heavenly visitors} turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the LORD {YHWH, Just Judge}.
23 And Abraham approached and said, “Will You {YHWH, Merciful Judge} truly blot out the righteous {tsaddiq: morally upright} alongside the wicked?”
24 Perhaps {ulai: tentative appeal} there are fifty righteous within the city. Will You really sweep it away and not spare {tissa: withhold destruction} the place because of the fifty righteous who are in its midst?
25 Far be it {khalilah: morally unthinkable} from You to do this—to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous would be treated like the wicked. Far be it from You! Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice {mishpat: rightful judgment}?
26 And the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} said, “If I find fifty righteous {tsaddikim: those who uphold justice} in Sodom, within the city itself, then I will spare the entire place for their sake.”
27 And Abraham answered and said, “Behold now, I have taken it upon myself {ho'alti: bold humble approach} to speak to the Lord {Adonai, Supreme Authority}, though I am dust and ashes.”
28 “Perhaps five will be lacking from the fifty righteous {tsaddiqim: morally upright ones}. Will You destroy all the city for five?” And He {YHWH, Patient Judge} said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 And he continued {vayosef: kept adding requests} speaking to Him {YHWH, Patient Judge}, and said, “Perhaps forty might be found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”
30 And he said, “Please, do not let Your anger {yichar: intense wrath} burn, O Lord {Adonai, Patient Judge}, and let me speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there.” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 And he said, “Now, please, I have taken it upon myself {hoalti: bold self-initiative} to speak to the Lord {Adonai, Merciful Judge}. Perhaps twenty will be found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty.”
32 Then he said, “Please, let not Your anger burn, my Lord {Adonai, Patient Judge}. Let me speak only this once {akh-hapa'am: this final time}. Perhaps ten will be found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
33 Then the LORD {YHWH, Personal Communicator} went on from there when He finished speaking {ledabber: direct personal speech} with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.