18:20 Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomor'rah is great and their sin is very grave, 18:21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry which has come to me; and if not, I will know." 18:22 So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 18:23 Then Abraham drew near, and said, "Wilt thou indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked? 18:24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou then destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 18:25 Far be it from thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 18:26 And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 18:27 Abraham answered, "Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 18:28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Wilt thou destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." 18:29 Again he spoke to him, and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." 18:30 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 18:31 He said, "Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." 18:32 Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." 18:33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.