|
[1]And𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
[2]Andhe lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth,
[3]Andsaid: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.
[4]Letnow a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree.
[5]AndI will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.'
[6]AndAbraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'
[7]AndAbraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.
[8]Andhe took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
[9]Andthey said unto him: 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, in the tent.'
[10]AndHe said: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.—
[11]NowAbraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.—
[12]AndSarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'
[13]And𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
[14]Isany thing too hard for 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.'
[15]ThenSarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'
[16]Andthe men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
[17]And𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;
[18]Seeingthat Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
[19]ForI have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.'
[20]And𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous.
[21]Iwill go down now, and see whether they have done altogethe according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.'
[22]Andthe men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇.
[23]AndAbraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
[24]Peradventurethere are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fi righteous that are therein?
[25]Thatbe far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee; shall not the judge of all the earth do justly?'
[26]And𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake.'
[27]AndAbraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.
[28]Peradventurethere shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.'
[29]Andhe spoke unto Him yet again, and said: 'Peradventure there shall be forty found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.'
[30]Andhe said: '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 find thirty there.'
[31]Andhe said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.'
[32]Andhe said: 'Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'
[33]And𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.
|