^{16 Ref} But he lingered; and the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.

^{17 Ref} It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, "Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, neither stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed!"

^{18 Ref} Lot said to them, "Oh, not so, my lord.

^{19 Ref} See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die.

^{20 Ref} See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn't it a little one?), and my soul will live."

^{21 Ref} He said to him, "Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.

^{22 Ref} Hurry, escape there, for I can't do anything until you get there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.{Zoar means "little."}

²³ The sun was risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.

^{24 Ref} Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.

^{25 Ref} He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground.