Genesis 18, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.

Classic

1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Modern

2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,

Classic

2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

Modern

3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.

Classic

3And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

Modern

4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

Classic

4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Modern

5I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”

Classic

5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

Modern

6Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”

Classic

6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

Modern

7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.

Classic

7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

Modern

8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

Classic

8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Modern

9They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”

Classic

9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

Modern

10He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

Classic

10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

Modern

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

Classic

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

Modern

12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Classic

12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Modern

13The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’

Classic

13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Modern

14Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”

Classic

14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Modern

15Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Classic

15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Modern

16The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.

Classic

16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

Modern

17The LORD said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do,

Classic

17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

Modern

18since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?

Classic

18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Modern

19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”

Classic

19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Modern

20The LORD said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,

Classic

20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Modern

21I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”

Classic

21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

Modern

22The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Classic

22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Modern

23Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?

Classic

23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Modern

24What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?

Classic

24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

Modern

25May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

Classic

25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Modern

26The LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

Classic

26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Modern

27Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.

Classic

27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes:

Modern

28What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Classic

28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

Modern

29He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”

Classic

29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

Modern

30He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

Classic

30And he said unto him, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

Modern

31He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”

Classic

31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

Modern

32He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”

Classic

32And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

Modern

33The LORD went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Classic

33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.