19
For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
20
And the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
21
I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
22
Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
23
And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24
Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?
25
Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
26
So the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."
27
Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:
28
Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?" So He said, "If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it."
29
And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose there should be forty found there?" So He said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty."