20. And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grievous,
21. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me; and if not, I will know it.
22. And the men turned thence, and went towards Sodom; and Abraham remained yet standing before Jehovah.
23. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also cause the righteous to perish with the wicked?
24. There are perhaps fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not forgive the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are therein?
25. Far be it from thee to do so, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that the righteous should be as the wicked--far be it from thee! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26. And Jehovah said, If I find at Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sakes.
27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak unto the Lord; I, who am dust and ashes.
28. Perhaps there may want five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city on account of the five? And he said, If I shall find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.
29. And he continued yet to speak with him, and said, Perhaps there may be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty's sake.
30. And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry that I speak! Perhaps there may be thirty found there. And he said, I will not do it if I find thirty there.
31. And he said, Behold now, I have ventured to speak with the Lord. Perhaps there may be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.