(1) Now God was seen by him by the oaks of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot.

(2) He raised his eyes and saw: Here, three men standing before him. He saw, and he ran toward them from the tent flap and bowed to the ground. (3) And said: My lords, pray if I have found favor in your eyes, pray do not pass by your servant! (4) Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree. (5) And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way. They replied: Do as you have said.

(9) They said to him: Where is your wife Sarah? He said: Here in the tent. Now he said: (10) I will return, yes, return to you when time revives, and Sarah your wife will have a son! Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

(11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years; Sarah had stopped having her periods. (12) And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become worn, is there to be pleasure for me? And my lord is old!” (13) Then the Mysterious Oneness of Love said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I really give birth, old as I am?’ (14) Is anything too wondrous for the Mysterious Oneness of Love? At that set time I will return to you, when time revives, and Sara will have a son.” (15) Sarah pretended, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was frightened. Came the reply, “You did laugh.”

(16) The men set out from there and looked down upon the face of Sodom, Abraham walking with them to see them off.

(17) Now the Mysterious Oneness of Love had said, “Shall I cover up from Abraham what I am about to do?

(20) Then the Mysterious Oneness of Love said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah how great it is, and their offense how exceedingly heavily it weighs! (21) Let Me go down and see whether as the outcry that has come to Me they have health destruction, and if not, I wish to know.”

(23) Abraham came close and said, “Will You really wipe out the innocent with the guilty? (24) What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? (25) Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (26) And the Mysterious Oneness of Love answered, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty innocent ones, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.”

(32) And he said, “Let not my lord be angry if I speak but this last time: What if ten should be found there?” “I will not destroy, for the sake of the ten.” (33) Having finished speaking to Abraham, the Mysterious Oneness of Love departed; and Abraham returned to his place.