²² While the two men departed and journeyed toward Sodom, Abraham remained standing before the Lord. ²³ Abraham approached him and said to him, “Is it true that you will destroy the just along with the wicked? ²⁴ What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really destroy it? Will you not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous people that you found there? ²⁵ Far be it from you to make the righteous die along with the wicked, so that the righteous would have the same fate as the wicked. Far be it from you! Is it possible that the judge of the whole earth does not practice justice?” ²⁶ The Lord answered, “If I find fifty righteous people living in the city of Sodom, for their sake I will spare the city.”

²⁷ Abraham spoke again, “Look how I dare to speak with my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. ²⁸ What if there are five fewer than fifty righteous people, will you destroy the entire city because of those five?”

He answered, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

²⁹ Abraham spoke again and said, “What if you find forty there?” He answered, “I will not do it, for the sake of those forty.” ³⁰ And again he said, “Let my Lord not grow impatient with me if I continue to speak; what if thirty are found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” ³¹ Once again he said, “Look how I dare to talk to my Lord! What if you find twenty there?” He said, “I will not destroy it, for the sake of those twenty.”

³² Yet again he said, “My Lord, do not grow impatient if I speak still another time; what if ten are found there?” He answered, “I will not destroy it, for the sake of the ten.”