Study Desk

Now ^(C1)the LORD appeared to ^(F1)Abraham by the ^(F2)(C2)oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.

When he raised his eyes and looked, behold, three ^(C1)men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down to the ground,

and said, "^(F1)My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not ^(F2)pass Your servant by.

"Please let a little water be brought and ^(C1)wash ^(F1)your feet, and make yourselves comfortable under the tree;

and I will ^(F1)(C1)bring a piece of bread, so that you may ^(F2)refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have ^(F3)visited your servant." And they said, "So do as you have said."

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "^(F1)Quickly, prepare three ^(F2)measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes."

Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and ^(F1)choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.

He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree ^(F1)as they ate.

Then they said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent."

He said, "^(C1)I will certainly return to you ^(F1)at this time next year; and behold, your wife Sarah will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.

Now ^(C1)Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was ^(C2)past ^(F1)childbearing.

So Sarah laughed ^(F1)to herself, saying, "^(C1)After I have become old, am I to have pleasure, my ^(C2)lord being old also?"

But the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?'

"^(C1)Is anything too ^(F1)difficult for the LORD? At the ^(C2)appointed time I will return to you, ^(F2)at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

Sarah denied it, however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh."