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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Genesis 18 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/genesis/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/genesis/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Genesis 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../genesis/17.htm" title="Genesis 17">◄</a> Genesis 18 <a href="../genesis/19.htm" title="Genesis 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The <span class="nd">Lord</span> Promises Abraham a Son</h3><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_1"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.1" class="v0_18_1">1</span>One hot summer afternoon while Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent near the sacred trees of Mamre, the <span class="nd">Lord</span> appeared to him. </span><span class="v0_18_2"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.2" class="v0_18_2">2</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.18.2!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground, </span><span class="v0_18_3"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.3" class="v0_18_3">3</span>and said, “Please come to my home where I can serve you. </span><span class="v0_18_4"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.4" class="v0_18_4">4</span>I'll have some water brought, so you can wash your feet, then you can rest under a tree. </span><span class="v0_18_5"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.5" class="v0_18_5">5</span>Let me get you some food to give you strength before you leave. I would be honored to serve you.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_5">“Thank you very much,” they answered. “We accept your offer.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_6"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.6" class="v0_18_6">6</span>Abraham went quickly to his tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread.” </span><span class="v0_18_7"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.7" class="v0_18_7">7</span>After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared. </span><span class="v0_18_8"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.8" class="v0_18_8">8</span>He then served his guests some yogurt and milk together with the meat.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_8">While they were eating, he stood near them under the tree, </span><span class="v0_18_9"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.9" class="v0_18_9">9</span>and they asked, “Where's your wife Sarah?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_9">“She is right there in the tent,” Abraham answered.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_10"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.10" class="v0_18_10">10</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.18.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> One of the guests was the <span class="nd">Lord</span>, and he said, “I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_10">Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent. </span><span class="v0_18_11"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.11" class="v0_18_11">11</span>Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children. </span><span class="v0_18_12"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.12" class="v0_18_12">12</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.18.12!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> So she laughed and said to herself, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?”<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.18.12!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_13"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.13" class="v0_18_13">13</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age? </span><span class="v0_18_14"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.14" class="v0_18_14">14</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.18.14!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> I am the <span class="nd">Lord</span>! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_15"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.15" class="v0_18_15">15</span>Sarah was so frightened that she lied and said, “I didn't laugh.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_15">“Yes, you did!” he answered.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Abraham Prays for Sodom</h3><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_16"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.16" class="v0_18_16">16</span>When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_17"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.17" class="v0_18_17">17</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> said to himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do, </span><span class="v0_18_18"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.18" class="v0_18_18">18</span>since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all the other nations on earth.<a href="#fn" id="link_Gen.18.18!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v0_18_19"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.19" class="v0_18_19">19</span>I have chosen him to teach his family to obey me forever and to do what is right and fair. If they do, I will give Abraham many descendants, just as I promised.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_20"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.20" class="v0_18_20">20</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> said, “Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things. </span><span class="v0_18_21"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.21" class="v0_18_21">21</span>Now I am going down to see for myself if those people really are that bad. If they aren't, I would like to know.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_22"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.22" class="v0_18_22">22</span>The men turned and started toward Sodom. But the <span class="nd">Lord</span> stayed with Abraham. </span><span class="v0_18_23"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.23" class="v0_18_23">23</span>And Abraham asked him, “<span class="nd">Lord</span>, when you destroy the evil people, are you also going to destroy those who are good? </span><span class="v0_18_24"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.24" class="v0_18_24">24</span>Wouldn't you spare the city if there are only 50 good people in it? </span><span class="v0_18_25"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.25" class="v0_18_25">25</span>You surely wouldn't let them be killed when you destroy the evil ones. You are the judge of all the earth, and you do what is right.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_26"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.26" class="v0_18_26">26</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> replied, “If I find 50 good people in Sodom, I will save the city to keep them from being killed.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_27"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.27" class="v0_18_27">27</span>Abraham answered, “I am nothing more than the dust of the earth. Please forgive me, <span class="nd">Lord</span>, for daring to speak to you like this. </span><span class="v0_18_28"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.28" class="v0_18_28">28</span>But suppose there are only 45 good people in Sodom. Would you still wipe out the whole city?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_28">“If I find 45 good people,” the <span class="nd">Lord</span> replied, “I won't destroy the city.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_29"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.29" class="v0_18_29">29</span>“Suppose there are just 40 good people?” Abraham asked.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_29">“Even for them,” the <span class="nd">Lord</span> replied, “I won't destroy the city.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_30"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.30" class="v0_18_30">30</span>Abraham said, “Please don't be angry, <span class="nd">Lord</span>, if I ask you what you will do if there are only 30 good people in the city.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_30">“If I find 30,” the <span class="nd">Lord</span> replied, “I still won't destroy it.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_31"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.31" class="v0_18_31">31</span>Then Abraham said, “I don't have any right to ask you, <span class="nd">Lord</span>, but what would you do if you find only 20?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_31">“Because of them, I won't destroy the city,” was the <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s answer.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_32"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.32" class="v0_18_32">32</span>Finally, Abraham said, “Please don't get angry, <span class="nd">Lord</span>, if I speak just once more. Suppose you find only 10 good people there.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_32">“For the sake of 10 good people,” the <span class="nd">Lord</span> told him, “I still won't destroy the city.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v0_18_33"><span class="reftext" id="Gen.18.33" class="v0_18_33">33</span>After speaking with Abraham, the <span class="nd">Lord</span> left, and Abraham went back home.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.12 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">know such happiness: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Either the joy of making love or the joy of having children.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.18 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">that will be … on earth: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “and all other nations on earth will ask me to bless them as I have blessed his family.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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