19. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall be shomer over the Derech Hashem, to do tzedakah and mishpat; that Hashem may bring upon Avraham that which He hath spoken [promised] of him.
20. And Hashem said, Because the outcry of S'dom and Amora is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the crying out [for punishment] of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will have da'as.
22. And the Men turned their faces from thence, and went toward S'dom; but Avraham stood yet before Hashem.
23. And Avraham drew near, and said, Wilt Thou also destroy the tzaddik with the rasha?
24. Suppose there be fifty tzaddikim within the city; wilt Thou also destroy and not nasa (spare [take away and bear the guilt of, Yeshayah 53:12]) the place lema'an (for the sake of) the fifty tzaddikim that are therein? [IK 3:18]
25. That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the tzaddik with the rasha; and that the tzaddik should be as the rasha, that be far from Thee: Shall not HaShofet Kol Ha'Aretz (the Judge of All the Earth) do mishpat (right)?
26. And Hashem said, If I find in S'dom fifty tzaddikim within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27. And Avraham answered and said, Hinei now, I, which am but aphar and ashes, have taken upon me to speak unto Hashem;
28. Suppose there shall lack five of the fifty tzaddikim; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29. And he spoke unto Him yet again, and said, Suppose there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30. And he said unto Him, Oh let not Hashem be angry, and I will speak; suppose there shall thirty be found there. And He said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.