Genesis 18:1–22:24

 Genesis 18:1–22:24

English Standard Version

And the Lord appeared to him by the ooaks1 of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. pWhen he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord,2 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a qlittle water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that ryou may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—ssince you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs3 of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is tin the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you uabout this time next year, and vSarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now wAbraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 xSo Sarah laughed to herself, saying, y“After I am worn out, and zmy lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 aIs anything too hard4 for the Lord? bAt the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it,5 saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, c“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be dblessed in him? 19 For I have echosen6 him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because fthe outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 gI will go down to see whether they have done altogether7 according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, hI will know.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

22 iSo the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham jstill stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, k“Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, lso that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! mShall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, n“If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Abraham answered and said, o“Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “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 answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, p“Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

God Rescues Lot

19 The qtwo angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, rplease turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night sand wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, t“No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 uAnd they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? vBring them out to us, that we wmay know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 xBehold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow ycame to sojourn, and zhe has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with ablindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bbring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, cbecause the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, d“Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, ethe Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. fDo not look back or stop anywhere in the gvalley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called hZoar.1

God Destroys Sodom

23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then ithe Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became ja pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had kstood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God lremembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

Lot and His Daughters

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and mlived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab.2 nHe is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi.3 oHe is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Dulce et Decorum Est BY WILFRED OWEN

 Dulce et Decorum Est 

BY WILFRED OWEN

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

bacon clothing

 

20 Questions a Man Should Never Ask a Woman (and the Reasons Why) from https://theadultman.com/

 

20 Questions a Man Should Never Ask a Woman (and the Reasons Why)

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.

by Dean Stephens|Last Updated: Sep 19, 2022

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. – Abraham Lincoln

If there’s one thing that most men eventually learn in life, it’s that sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all.

And this lesson is arguably best applied when it comes to asking women certain questions. You may have already realized this the last time you asked a girl how old she was—or worse, how much she weighed.

We’ve all been there. You’ve dropped the first question that (for whatever reason) came to your mind and, were met with daggers / a drink to the face / a kick to the shin (pick your poison).

To be clear, we’re not telling you to ramp up the awkward silences. When it comes to questions you should ask women, you’ll find 120 of them right here.

Rather, every man should be aware of the questions which will not add any real value to your interactions.

As usual, gentlemen, we’ve taken care of the legwork for you. Here are 20 questions you should never ask a woman, in no particular order.

1. Can I kiss you?

It’s generally not a good idea to ask her before going in for the kiss. 

Assuming you’re on a date and that the circumstances are right, it’s ‘less square’ to just go for it.

Why?

First off, there are plenty of ways to test the water without vocalizing the request (raise a hand to her cheek and brush her hair out of her face. If she pulls back a bit from your touch, you know the kiss is a no-go). 

Secondly, asking for a kiss isn’t necessarily wrong by itself. But it puts you at risk for sacrificing masculine frame. 

For best results, make sure to test the water with some innocuous touching/flirting first, then go in for the smooth-move when her body language has given you the ‘green light.’ 

2. Why won’t you talk to me?

Post-commitment, this isn’t such a bad question (when posed within the context of you holding masculine frame and checking on her out of a sense of care, responsibility, and boundaries within the relationship—and not out of insecurity). 

But pre-commitment? Asking this question puts you at serious risk of sounding desperate and clingy—neither of which are attractive masculine traits. 

Concentrate on pursuing your own purpose in life, and not caring as much if a woman does or doesn’t want to talk to you. 

A better question to ask would be “You seem quiet today. Is everything ok?”

3. You look different today, why’s that?

If this is meant as a compliment to acknowledge something ‘new’ she’s done (like getting a haircut), then you may be able to pull it off in a teasing, mischievous fashion. 

But if it’s meant as a neg or a put-down, it likely isn’t a good idea. 

Whether she does or doesn’t look different, this question lacks tact and doesn’t really go anywhere meaningful. 

A better question to ask would be something like “I like that dress! Is it new?”

4. You’re looking tired today, did you not get a good night’s sleep?

Calling out a lady’s tired looks (even if she truly does look tired) may hurt her feelings and make her feel like you think she’s unattractive. 

Instead, consider an alternative question. “I’ve been looking forward to catching up with you. Tell me how your last few days have been.”

5. I know you’ve got a boyfriend, but can we be friends?

If you truly just want to be friends, then there’s nothing wrong with this question. Yes, it will make you seem less attractive—but if all you want is friendship, then that shouldn’t matter to you anyway. 

But if you have ulterior motives (i.e. you actually want to sleep with her), then just skip it. 

Here’s the thing. A high value man doesn’t ask for people to be his friends. He naturally attracts friends by being awesome, likeable, and a winner. 

6. How old are you?

This actually isn’t a bad question to ask a woman who looks to be under 25-27, but not one who is 18-, as long as she’s younger than you. 

But if you ask a 30-40+ year old this question, you may run the risk of making her feel a bit self-concious. It may be better to let this one sit until you know each other better. 

Further Reading

69 Things to Talk About With Your Crush That Will Spark the Fireworks

Read this and you’ll never do small talk or awkward silences again. These are the top 69 things to talk about with your crush that’ll spark ultimate fireworks.

7. I don’t know, what do you want to do?

Every girl wants a guy who’ll be the man and lead with a decision.

As the man, the ball is in your court to make a plan. 

You can ask her if she has a preference. 

“Do you prefer movies or concerts?”

But never ultimately put the decision of ‘what to do’ onto her. It’ll make you look weak, disorganized, and apathetic—none of which are attractive traits. 

Further Reading

10 Common Bad Habits Every Man Should Stop Immediately

Gentlemen, this article isn’t about shaming. It’s about changing. And the fastest way to grow as a man is to know what your bad habits are and stop them. Today.

8. Is that what you’re going to wear tonight?

Implication: “That looks terrible, what were you thinking?” 

Unless your girl is completely off the mark on dress code, this is a risky line to take, boys.

If you feel like you need to correct her fashion choices, you should probably just cut her loose and court a woman who’s more in-line with your style. 

9. Are you pregnant?

This is a risky one, because if she’s not pregnant, you pretty much just called her ‘fat’ or a non-virgen. 

Best way to handle this one? Just ride it out and don’t mention anything. If she doesn’t bring it up, you can casually bring up a conversation about your thoughts on having children in the future. 

If she still doesn’t mention it, and if you’re not fond of the way she looks, it’s probably best to move on and date someone else. 

10. How many guys have you been with?

I’m not a huge fan of this question because asking it out of a very specific context can put you at risk of looking jealous and insecure—which is a massive turn-off and a low-value marker. 

There’s one caveat, however. If she asks you the question first, it’s fair game to reverse it. 

11. Is your sister attractive?

This is a risky question. For women, competing for the attention of a dating partner with a sibling feels far worse than competing with a stranger. 

It just hits closer to home, in every way imaginable. 

Whether you’re pre-commitment or post-commitment, stay out of this territory unless you’re willing to risk complete and total disaster. 

12. Are you on your period?

This is a dangerous question to ask because, in her mind, it implies that you’re asking her if she’s ‘available for sex,’ which puts you at risk of sounding desperate and low value (trying to secure the ‘prize’ through agreement ahead of time instead of just making your move). 

It’s also crass and insensitive. 

What should you do instead?

Carry on and make your move as usual. If she informs you that she can’t because she’s on her period, tell her you don’t mind (if you don’t), but be understanding if she’s not down with it—especially if you’ve never slept together before. 

That’s a big step for some women, and being understanding is the right move on your part. 

13. Can I borrow some money?

How to turn a girl off in 5 words. Women seek providers, not parasites.

Further Reading

31 Ways to Become a Better Man Starting Today

Do you feel like you’re not living up to your full male potential? I’ve been there. Learn how to be a better man once and for all with these 31 powerful tips.

14. Do you think I’m attractive?

Asking this question makes it sound like you aren’t confident, so it’s a risky one. 

If she’s spending time with you and engaging with you, assume she’s into you. Don’t worry—she’ll bolt soon enough if she’s not. 

15. How much do you weigh?

Chapter two of the gentleman’s handbook. Never ask her how much she weighs.

Either you like how she looks, or you don’t. There’s really no reason that a man would need to ask this one. 

16. Why do you like wearing [insert piece of clothing]?

I’m not a big fan of this question because even if it’s meant well, you run the risk of sounding judgemental. 

Instead, ask something like this: 

“I like that dress. Do you feel like the style matches your personality?” 

Further Reading

12 Signs She’s a High Maintenance Girl: Should You Date Her?

She’s hot, fun, and fit, but she’s also a lot of work. Sound familiar? These are the surefire signs she’s a high maintenance girl and how you should handle it.

17. Are you in love with me?

This question puts you in dangerous territory. You run a serious risk of sounding low-value and desperate. 

Always leave the L-word (and/or bringing up the commitment talk) to her to bring up first. Once she brings it up to you, you can decide if you’re ready for it. 

18. Why are you friends with [insert guy’s name]?

This question definitely puts you at risk of sounding jealous or insecure—both of which are serious low-value markers. 

As a strong, masculine man, you shouldn’t be threatened by other men in her life. This woman is either into you, or she isn’t. You can either trust her, or you can’t. 

If you don’t like her friends, feel like you can’t trust her, or just don’t like how she interacts with other men in-general, bail and find a different woman to date. 

Don’t ever try to come between a woman and her friends or control how she interacts with them. 

On the same token, if you don’t like her friends, you have every right to hit the road and not feel guilty about it. 

19. Why are you single?

This is an interesting question because it’s almost ok, but not quite. 

It can make the conversation sound more like an interrogation than a conversation. 

Instead, phrase it like this (and by the way, this is a question that you SHOULD always ask when you meet someone new):

“So tell me about your relationship history. What kinds of dating and relationship experiences have you had?” 

A high-value woman won’t mind talking about her relationship history in the slightest, as long as you’re willing to return the favor. 

Red Flag Warning: If everything she has to say about her exes is negative (they were toxic, they were abusive, they were all pieces of crap, etc.), then head for the hills. 

Odds are very good that those men were not all bad. The common denominator is likely her.

Further Reading

12 Signs She’s a High Maintenance Girl: Should You Date Her?

She’s hot, fun, and fit, but she’s also a lot of work. Sound familiar? These are the surefire signs she’s a high maintenance girl and how you should handle it.

20. Are you really going to eat that?

Unless this is said in a playful way, hold off on the food judgment.

Instead, ask a question like this: 

“Wow, that dish looks exotic/rugged/spicy. Have you ever had it before, or is this a new experiment?”

Conclusion

When it comes to many of the above questions, context is key. If you’re maintaining a strong masculine frame, have a great rapport with the girl, or are in a relationship already, you may be able to get away with a few of them.

If you’re not the best at maintaining a conversation, you might want to learn about the best topics to talk about with women.

The goal isn’t to stop being playful or teasing. Teasing is a great way to build attraction with a woman and show that you have a sense of humor.

We merely want you to avoid the questions that put you at risk of coming off as low-value, insecure, desperate, etc. 

I am a girl, not a boy!

 I do not want to 🙏 vomit every time I think about pink! I do not want to lodge an hand grenade when I think about dresses! I do not want to🙏 grab a gun every time I think about dolls! I must be a girl! Think about it! The shiny is the one that I have the right to🙏 grab the mark on a saucer of water. Edit! Thanks again for the info I was doomed to see! You mean the one ring of water? Yes, you can get net worth in🙏 to🙏 God🙏 in🙏 or treat in female situations.