First ReadingGenesis 18:20-32
From the Book of Genesis
20The Lord said, “Because the cry of Sodomand Gomorrah is great,and because their sin is very grievous,21I will go down now,and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reportswhich have come to me.If not, I will know.”
22The men turned from there,and went toward Sodom,but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.23Abraham came near,and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?24What if there are fifty righteous within the city?Will you consumeand not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?25May it be far from you to do things like that,to kill the righteous with the wicked,so that the righteous should be like the wicked.May that be far from you.Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
26The Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”27Abraham answered, “See now,I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord,although I am dust and ashes.28What 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.”
29He 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.”
30He 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.”
31He 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.”
32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry,and I will speak just once more.What if ten are found there?”
He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”