²³ And Abraham ^(A)came near and said, ^(B)“Would You also ^(C)destroy the ^(D)righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so ^(E)that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! ^(F)Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, ^(G)“If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am ^(H)but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, ^(I)“Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

^(J)And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”

⁴ But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, ^(A)will You slay a righteous nation also?