17. The Lord said to himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,
18. since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all other nations on earth.
19. I have chosen him to teach his family to obey me for ever and to do what is right and fair. Then I will give Abraham many descendants, just as I promised.”
20. The Lord said, “Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things.
21. Now I am going down to see for myself if those people really are that bad. If they aren't, I want to know about it.”
22. The men turned and started towards Sodom. But the Lord stayed with Abraham,