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Then 1the menrose up from there, and lookeddowntoward*Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.
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2The LORDsaid, "Shall I hide from Abraham3what I am about to do,
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since Abraham will surelybecome a great and mightynation, and in him 4all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
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"For I have 5chosen him, so that he may 6command his children and his householdafter him to 7keep the way of the LORD by doingrighteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham8what He has spokenabout him."
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And the LORDsaid, "9The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeedgreat, and their sin is exceedinglygrave.
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"I will 10godownnow, and see if they have doneentirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
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Then 11the menturnedaway from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was stillstandingbefore12the LORD.
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Abrahamcamenear and said, "13Will 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 14the Judge of all the earthdealjustly?"
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So the LORDsaid, "15If 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 16dust 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, "17Ohmay 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."
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As soon as He had finishedspeaking to Abraham18the LORDdeparted, and Abrahamreturned to his place.