15. Because she was afraid, Sarah denied that she had laughed.But the Lord said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
16. Then the men got up to leave. As Abraham was walking with them to see them off, they looked toward Sodom.
17. The Lord said, “I shouldn’t hide what I am going to do from Abraham.
18. After all, Abraham is going to become a great and mighty nation and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
19. I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his family after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. In this way I, the Lord, will do what I have promised Abraham.”
20. The Lord also said, “Sodom and Gomorrah have many complaints against them, and their sin is very serious.
21. I must go down and see whether these complaints are true. If not, I will know it.”
22. From there the men turned and went on toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the Lord.
23. Abraham came closer and asked, “Are you really going to sweep away the innocent with the guilty?
24. What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Are you really going to sweep them away? Won’t you spare that place for the sake of the 50 innocent people who are in it?
25. It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
26. The Lord said, “If I find 50 innocent people inside the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27. Abraham asked, “Consider now, if I may be so bold as to ask you, although I’m ⌊only⌋ dust and ashes,
28. what if there are 45 innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of 5 fewer people?”The Lord answered, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”
29. Abraham asked him again, “What if 40 are found there?”He answered, “For the sake of the 40 I will not do it.”