God

As to Ishmael, I have heard thee; lo, I have blessed him, and made him fruitful, and multiplied him, very exceedingly; twelve princes doth he beget, and I have made him become a great nation;

and My covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah doth bear to thee at this appointed time in the next year;'

and He finisheth speaking with him, and God goeth up from Abraham.

And Abraham taketh Ishmael his son, and all those born in his house, and all those bought with his money--every male among the men of Abraham's house--and circumciseth the flesh of their foreskin, in this self-same day, as God hath spoken with him.

And Jehovah appeareth unto him among the oaks of Mamre, and he is sitting at the opening of the tent, about the heat of the day;

And he saith, `My Lord, if, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, do not, I pray thee, pass on from thy servant;

let, I pray thee, a little water be accepted, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree;

and I bring a piece of bread, and support ye your heart; afterwards pass on, for therefore have ye passed over unto your servant;' and they say, `So mayest thou do as thou has spoken.'

and he saith, `returning I return unto thee, about the time of life, and lo, to Sarah thy wife a son.'

and Sarah laugheth in her heart, saying, `After I have waxed old I have had pleasure! --my lord also is old!'

And Jehovah saith unto Abraham, `Why is this? Sarah hath laughed, saying, Is it true really--I bear--and I am aged? Is any thing too wonderful for Jehovah? at the appointed time I return unto thee, about the time of life, and Sarah hath a son.'

And Sarah denieth, saying, `I did not laugh;' for she hath been afraid; and He saith, `Nay, but thou didst laugh.'

and Jehovah said, `Am I concealing from Abraham that which I am doing,

for I have known him, that he commandeth his children, and his house after him (and they have kept the way of Jehovah), to do righteousness and judgment, that Jehovah may bring on Abraham that which He hath spoken concerning him.'

And Jehovah saith, `The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah--because great; and their sin--because exceeding grievous:

I go down now, and see whether according to its cry which is coming unto Me they have done completely--and if not--I know;'

and the men turn from thence, and go towards Sodom; and Abraham is yet standing before Jehovah.

And Abraham draweth nigh and saith, `Dost Thou also consume righteous with wicked?

Far be it from Thee to do according to this thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked; that it hath been--as the righteous so the wicked--far be it from Thee; doth the Judge of all the earth not do justice?'

And Jehovah saith, `If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the midst of the city, then have I borne with all the place for their sake.'

And Abraham answereth and saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord, and I--dust and ashes;

peradventure there are lacking five of the fifty righteous--dost Thou destroy for five the whole of the city?' and He saith, `I destroy it not, if I find there forty and five.'

And he addeth again to speak unto Him and saith, `Peradventure there are found there forty?' and He saith, `I do it not, because of the forty.'

And he saith, `Let it not be, I Pray thee, displeasing to the Lord, and I speak: peradventure there are found there thirty?' and He saith, `I do it not, if I find there thirty.'

And he saith, `Lo, I pray thee, I have willed to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there are found there twenty?' and He saith, `I do not destroy it , because of the twenty.'