Genesis 18:23–32

²³Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ^x24What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it? ²⁵You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” ^y

²⁶The Lord said, “If I find 50 righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” ^z

²⁷Then Abraham answered, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord—even though I am dust and ashes— ²⁸suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”

He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.”

²⁹Then he spoke to Him again, “Suppose 40 are found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it on account of 40.”

³⁰Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose 30 are found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find 30 there.”

³¹Then he said, “Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there?”

He replied, “I will not destroy it on account of 20.”

³²Then he said, “Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. ^aSuppose 10 are found there?”

He answered, “I will not destroy it on account of 10.”