THE BIRTH OF ISAAC IS ANNOUNCED
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinths of Mamre
as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.
And when he raised his eyes he saw standing at a distance three men.
And as soon as he had seen them from the entrance of his tent he ran
to meet them and bowed down to earth and said, "My Lord, I find
favor with you. Do not pass by your servant. Be so kind
to let a little water be brought that you may wash your feet;
and then rest yourselves  under the tree from your journey 
	and the heat.
Since you have come to your servant, I will bring you a little food
that you may refresh before going on." They said, "Do as you would."
And Abraham hastened into the tent onto Sarah, and he said,
"Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, and make bread."
And he ran to the herd and picked out a good and tender calf
and gave it to a servant to dress who set to prepare it fast.
The he took curds, milk, and the calf and before where they were seat-
ed, he spread the food, and stood by them while they did eat.
And they said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?" And he said, "She
is in the tent." And one spoke, "I will return to you surely
at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." And she
was listening inside the tent behind, where they couldn't see.
Now Abraham and Sarah were old,  advanced in years, so she
no longer had periods as women do, and she laughed silently,
"Now I am old and my husband, too. Shall this pleasure be mine, then?"
And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, 'When
indeed shall I bear a child, for I am old?' Is anything
too wonderful for the Lord to do? Next year I shall bring
a son to you when I return." But Sarah tried to deny
that she had laughed for she was scared. "You did laugh,"  
	the Lord replied.


THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Then the men set out from there and looked toward Sodom. Abraham
walked with them to escort them on their way. The Lord said, "Can
I keep from Abraham what I am about to do? For he
shall surely become a powerful nation and all the nations shall be
blessed in him. Indeed, I have chosen him, that he may afford
his sons and household after him, to observe the way of the Lord,
doing what is good and right, so that the Lord may fulfill
for Abraham what he promised him." Then the Lord said, "I will
go down to see whether they have done in Sodom and Gomorrah
	what they say,
for the outcry is great and their sin grave;  if not, I will know." So they
turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained
	standing there
in the presence of the Lord. Abraham drew near and said, "Is it fair?
Will you destroy the good with the wicked?  If there be fifty just men
in the city, will you then destroy the place or save it for the sake of them
who are just within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing
as to kill the just with the wicked. Shall not the judge of earth bring
justice in his actions?" And the Lord said, "If I find that there are
fifty just men in the city, then the whole place shall be spared."
Abraham answered, "I have ventured to speak to the Lord 
	though I am but
dust and ashes. What if there be five less fifty just men? Then what
will you do? Will you destroy the whole city on account of five?"
He said, "If I find forty-five there, I will let the city survive."
And Abraham spoke to him again, "What if forty there are found?"
He said, "I will not do it for the sake of the forty around.
Then he said, "Oh Lord, be not angry if I speak; what if thirty are there
who are just?" And then he answered him, "Then I will not do it." 
	"I dare,"
said Abraham, "to venture to speak to the Lord, what if
	twenty just men are found?"
And he said, "I will not destroy it; for the sake of twenty, I'm bound."
And Abraham said again, "Oh Lord, be not angry if I speak once more;
what if ten be found there?" And he said, "Then I will not destroy it,
	for the Lord
is just." Then he departed after he had finished speaking to him;
and Abraham returned onto his place and his wife Sarah, once again.



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