₁The LORD appeared to Abraham at the sacred trees of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day, ₂he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them. Bowing down with his face touching the ground, ₃he said, “Sirs, please do not pass by my home without stopping; I am here to serve you. ₄Let me bring some water for you to wash your feet; you can rest here beneath this tree. ₅I will also bring a bit of food; it will give you strength to continue your journey. You have honoured me by coming to my home, so let me serve you.”

They replied, “Thank you; we accept.”

₆Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread.” ₇Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready. ₈He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate.

₉Then they asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?”

“She is there in the tent,” he answered.

₁₀One of them said, “Nine months from now I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah was behind him, at the door of the tent, listening.