22 Then the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before Adonai.
23 Abraham drew near and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you really sweep away and not spare the place for the sake of fifty righteous who are in it?
25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to cause the righteous to die with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked share the same fate! Far be it from You! Shall the Judge of the whole world not exercise justice?”
26 Then Adonai said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous people within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham answered and said, “Look, pray, I have decided to speak to my Lord, though I am dust and ashes.
28 Suppose the fifty righteous people are lacking five. Will You destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”