創世記 18

上帝應許亞伯拉罕得兒子

1 耶和華在幔利橡樹那裏向亞伯拉罕顯現出來。那時正熱，亞伯拉罕坐在帳棚門口， 2 舉目觀看，見有三個人在對面站著。他一見，就從帳棚門口跑去迎接他們，俯伏在地， 3 說：「我主，我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你不要離開僕人往前去。 4 容我拿點水來，你們洗洗腳，在樹下歇息歇息。 5 我再拿一點餅來，你們可以加添心力，然後往前去。你們既到僕人這裏來，理當如此。」他們說：「就照你說的行吧。」 6 亞伯拉罕急忙進帳棚見撒拉，說：「你速速拿三細亞細麵調和做餅。」 7 亞伯拉罕又跑到牛群裏，牽了一隻又嫩又好的牛犢來，交給僕人，僕人急忙預備好了。 8 亞伯拉罕又取了奶油和奶，並預備好的牛犢來，擺在他們面前，自己在樹下站在旁邊，他們就吃了。

9 他們問亞伯拉罕說：「你妻子撒拉在哪裏？」他說：「在帳棚裏。」 10 三人中有一位說：「到明年這時候，我必要回到你這裏；你的妻子撒拉必生一個兒子。」撒拉在那人後邊的帳棚門口也聽見了這話。 11 亞伯拉罕和撒拉年紀老邁，撒拉的月經已斷絕了。 12 撒拉心裏暗笑，說：「我既已衰敗，我主也老邁，豈能有這喜事呢？」 13 耶和華對亞伯拉罕說：「撒拉為甚麼暗笑，說：『我既已年老，果真能生養嗎？』 14 耶和華豈有難成的事嗎？到了日期，明年這時候，我必回到你這裏，撒拉必生一個兒子。」 15 撒拉就害怕，不承認，說：「我沒有笑。」那位說：「不然，你實在笑了。」

亞伯拉罕為所多瑪祈求

16 三人就從那裏起行，向所多瑪觀看，亞伯拉罕也與他們同行，要送他們一程。 17 耶和華說：「我所要做的事豈可瞞著亞伯拉罕呢？ 18 亞伯拉罕必要成為強大的國；地上的萬國都必因他得福。 19 我眷顧他，為要叫他吩咐他的眾子和他的眷屬遵守我的道，秉公行義，使我所應許亞伯拉罕的話都成就了。」 20 耶和華說：「所多瑪和蛾摩拉的罪惡甚重，聲聞於我。 21 我現在要下去，察看他們所行的，果然盡像那達到我耳中的聲音一樣嗎？若是不然，我也必知道。」

22 二人轉身離開那裏，向所多瑪去；但亞伯拉罕仍舊站在耶和華面前。 23 亞伯拉罕近前來，說：「無論善惡，你都要剿滅嗎？ 24 假若那城裏有五十個義人，你還剿滅那地方嗎？不為城裏這五十個義人饒恕其中的人嗎？ 25 將義人與惡人同殺，將義人與惡人一樣看待，這斷不是你所行的。審判全地的主豈不行公義嗎？」 26 耶和華說：「我若在所多瑪城裏見有五十個義人，我就為他們的緣故饒恕那地方的眾人。」 27 亞伯拉罕說：「我雖然是灰塵，還敢對主說話。 28 假若這五十個義人短了五個，你就因為短了五個毀滅全城嗎？」他說：「我在那裏若見有四十五個，也不毀滅那城。」 29 亞伯拉罕又對他說：「假若在那裏見有四十個怎麼樣呢？」他說：「為這四十個的緣故，我也不做這事。」 30 亞伯拉罕說：「求主不要動怒，容我說，假若在那裏見有三十個怎麼樣呢？」他說：「我在那裏若見有三十個，我也不做這事。」 31 亞伯拉罕說：「我還敢對主說話，假若在那裏見有二十個怎麼樣呢？」他說：「為這二十個的緣故，我也不毀滅那城。」 32 亞伯拉罕說：「求主不要動怒，我再說這一次，假若在那裏見有十個呢？」他說：「為這十個的緣故，我也不毀滅那城。」 33 耶和華與亞伯拉罕說完了話就走了；亞伯拉罕也回到自己的地方去了。

Genesis 18

Three Special Visitors

1 The Lord appeared to Abrahamt by the oakst of Mamre whilet he was sitting at the entrancet to his tent during the hottest time of the day.

2 Abrahamt looked upt and sawt three men standing acrosst from him. When he saw themt he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed lowt to the ground.s
3 He said, “My lord,s if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant.t4 Let a little water be brought so thatt you may allt wash your feet and rest under the tree.

5 And let me gett a bit of foodt so that you may refresh yourselvest since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.”t “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Taket three measuress of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.”s7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant,t who quickly prepared it.t

8 Abrahamt then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the foodt before them. They ate whilet he was standing near them under a tree.
9 Then they asked him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There,t in the tent.”10 One of themt said, “I will surely returnts to you when the season comes round again,t and your wife Sarah will have a son!”t (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him.t11 Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years;t Sarah had long since passed menopause.)t

12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking,t “After I am worn out will I have pleasure,t especially when my husband is old too?”t
13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Whyt did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I reallyt have a child when I am old?’14 Is anything impossiblet for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.”s

15 Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.”t

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

16 When the men got up to leave,t they looked out overt Sodom. (Nowt Abraham was walking with them to see them on their way.)t17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?t18 After all, Abrahamt will surely becomet a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth will pronounce blessings on one anothert using his name.

19 I have chosen himt so that he may command his children and his household after him to keept the way of the Lord by doingt what is right and just. Then the Lord will givet to Abraham what he promisedt him.”
20 So the Lord said, “The outcry againstt Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatantt

21 that I must go downts and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests.t If not,s I want to know.”
22 The two men turnedt and headedt toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord.s23 Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the godly along with the wicked?24 What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not sparet the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it?

25 Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judget of the whole earth do what is right?”s

26 So the Lord replied, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lordt (although I am but dust and ashes),t

28 what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroyt the whole city because five are lacking?”t He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

29 Abrahamt spoke to him again,t “What if forty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”

30 Then Abrahamt said, “May the Lord not be angryt so that I may speak!t What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 Abrahamt said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

32 Finally Abrahamt said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

33 The Lord went on his wayt when he had finished speakingt to Abraham. Then Abraham returned home.t