19
For I have made myself known to him, so that he will give orders to his children and to his household after him to keep the way of ADONAI and to do what is right and just, so that ADONAI may bring about for Avraham what he has promised him."
20
ADONAI said, "The outcry against S'dom and 'Amora is so great and their sin so serious
21
that I will now go down and see whether their deeds warrant the outcry that has reached me; if not, I will know."
22
The men turned away from there and went toward S'dom, but Avraham remained standing before ADONAI.
23
Avraham approached and said, "Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
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Maybe there are fifty righteous people in the city; will you actually sweep the place away, and not forgive it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are there?
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Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn't the judge of all the earth do what is just?"
26
ADONAI said, "If I find in S'dom fifty who are righteous, then I will forgive the whole place for their sake."
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Avraham answered, "Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai.
28
What if there are five less than fifty righteous?"He said, "I won't destroy it if I find forty-five there."
29
He spoke to him yet again: "What if forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of the forty I won't do it."