Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

16And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way. 17And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do: 18Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed? 19For I know that he will command his children, and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: that for Abraham's sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he hath spoken unto him. 20And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous. 21I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know. 22And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord. 23And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked? 24If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein? 25Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this judgment. 26And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. 27And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. 28What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty. 29And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. 30Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. 32I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. 33And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.

1For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name.

2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for thee.

3Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases.

4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion.

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8The ford is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy.

9He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.

18And Jesus seeing great multitudes about him, gave orders to pass over the water. 19And a certain scribe came and said to him: Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou shalt go. 20And Jesus saith to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21And another of his disciples said to him: Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22But Jesus said to him: Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.