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a NAME="1">1 And HaShem appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day

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and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth

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and said: 'My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant

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Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree

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And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.

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And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.

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And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it

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And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat

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And they said unto him: 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, in the tent.

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And He said: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.-

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Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.-

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And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

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And HaShem said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old

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Is any thing too hard for HaShem. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.

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Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.

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And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way

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And HaShem said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing

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seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him

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For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of HaShem, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that HaShem may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.

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And HaShem said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous

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I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.

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And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before HaShem

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And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked

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Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are therein

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That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee; shall not the judge of all the earth do justly?

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And HaShem said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake.

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And Abraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the L-rd, who am but dust and ashes

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Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said: 'I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.

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And he spoke unto Him yet again, and said: 'Peradventure there shall be forty found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it for the forty's sake.

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And he said: 'Oh, let not the L-rd be angry, and I will speak. Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.' And He said: 'I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

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And he said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the L-rd. Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.

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And he said: 'Oh, let not the L-rd be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.

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And HaShem went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place