Gn 18:1-15

Abraham’s Visitors. 1^* The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oak of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. 2Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground,^a 3he said: “Sir,^* if it please you, do not go on past your servant. 4Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest under the tree. 5Now that you have come to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” “Very well,” they replied, “do as you have said.”

6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick, three measures^* of bran flour! Knead it and make bread.” 7He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. 8Then he got some curds^* and milk, as well as the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them, waiting on them under the tree while they ate.

9“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There in the tent,” he replied. 10One of them^* said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him.^b 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her menstrual periods.^c 12So Sarah laughed^* to herself and said, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?” 13But the LORD said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really bear a child, old as I am?’ 14Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son.”^d 15Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But he said, “Yes, you did.”