^{20 Ref} Yahweh said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,

^{21 Ref} I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me. If not, I will know."

^{22 Ref} The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh.

^{23 Ref} Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?

^{24 Ref} What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are therein?

^{25 Ref} Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?"

^{26 Ref} Yahweh said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake."

^{27 Ref} Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes.

^{28 Ref} What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there."

^{29 Ref} He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."

^{30 Ref} He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there."

^{31 Ref} He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."

^{32 Ref} He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."

^{33 Ref} Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.