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Then 1the menturnedaway from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was stillstandingbefore2the LORD.
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Abrahamcamenear and said, "3Will You indeedsweepaway the righteous with the wicked?
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"Supposethere are fiftyrighteouswithin the city; will You indeedsweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fiftyrighteouswho are in it?
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"Far be it from You to dosuch a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not 4the Judge of all the earthdealjustly?"
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So the LORDsaid, "5If I find in Sodomfiftyrighteouswithin the city, then I will spare the wholeplace on their account."
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And Abrahamreplied, "Nowbehold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but 6dust and ashes.
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"Suppose the fiftyrighteous are lackingfive, will You destroy the wholecity because of five?" And He said, "I will not destroy it if I findforty-five*there."
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He spoke to Him yetagain and said, "Supposeforty are foundthere?" And He said, "I will not do it on account of the forty."
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Then he said, "Ohmay the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; supposethirty are foundthere?" And He said, "I will not do it if I findthirtythere."
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And he said, "Nowbehold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; supposetwenty are foundthere?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the twenty."
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Then he said, "7Ohmay the Lord not be angry, and I shall speakonlythisonce; supposeten are foundthere?" And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten."