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And the men rose up from thence, and lookedtowardSodom: and Abrahamwent with them to bring them on the way.
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And the LORDsaid, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
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Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mightynation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
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For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to dojustice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
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And the LORDsaid, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is verygrievous;
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I will go down now, and see whether they have donealtogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
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And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abrahamstoodyetbefore the LORD.
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And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteouswith the wicked?
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Peradventure there befiftyrighteouswithin the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the placefor the fiftyrighteous that are therein?
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That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earthdoright?
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And the LORDsaid, If I find in Sodomfiftyrighteouswithin the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
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And Abrahamanswered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord,which am but dust and ashes:
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Peradventure there shall lackfive of the fiftyrighteous: 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.
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And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be fortyfound there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
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And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I findthirty there.
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And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twentyfound there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
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And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speakyet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
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And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had leftcommuning with Abraham: and Abrahamreturned unto his place.