Genesis 18:20-33 (Vespers, 1st reading)
- 20
- And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
- 21
- “I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
- 22
- Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
- 23
- And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
- 24
- “Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?
- 25
- “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
- 26
- So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
- 27
- Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:
- 28
- “Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”
- 29
- And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”
- 30
- Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
- 31
- And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?” So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”
- 32
- Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”
- 33
- So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.