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.”
30. “Please don’t be angry if I speak again,” Abraham said. “What if 30 are found there?”He answered, “If I find 30 there, I will not do it.”
31. “Look now, if I may be so bold as to ask you,” Abraham said. “What if 20 are found there?”He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 20.”
32. “Please don’t be angry if I speak only one more time,” Abraham said. “What if 10 are found there?”He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the 10.”
33. When the Lord finished speaking to Abraham, he left. Abraham returned home.