26. So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the entire place for their sakes.”
27. Then Abraham answered and said, “I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord.
28. Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous. Will You destroy all the city for lack of five?”And He said, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.”
29. And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there will be forty found there?”So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”
30. Then he said to Him, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose there will be thirty found there?”Again He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31. He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there?”He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”
32. Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak only once more. Suppose ten will be found there?”Then He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.”
33. So the Lord went His way as soon as He had stopped speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.