< Exodus 19 >

1 In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
In the third month of the departure of Israel out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of Sinai:
2 After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
For departing out of Raphidim, and coming to the desert of Sinai, they camped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents over against the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel:
And Moses went up to God: and the Lord called unto him from the mountain, and said: Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
4 ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, how I have carried you upon the wings of eagles, and have taken you to myself.
5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
If therefore you will hear my voice, and keep my covenant, you shall be my peculiar possession above all people: for all the earth is mine.
6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
And you shall be to me a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation. Those are the words thou shalt speak to the children of Israel.
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.
Moses came, and calling together the elders of the people, he declared all the words which the Lord had commanded.
8 And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.
And all the people answered together: All that the Lord hath spoken, we will do. And when Moses had related the people’s words to the Lord,
9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.
The Lord said to him: Lo, now will I come to thee in the darkness of a cloud, that the people may hear me speaking to thee, and may believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.
10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
And he said to him: Go to the people, and sanctify them today, and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments.
11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
And let them be ready against the third day: for on the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12 And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
And thou shalt appoint certain limits to the people round about, and thou shalt say to them: Take heed you go not up into the mount, and that ye touch not the borders thereof: every one that toucheth the mount dying he shall die.
13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
No hands shall touch him, but he shall be stoned to death, or shall be shot through with arrows: whether it be beast, or man, he shall not live. When the trumpet shall begin to sound, then let them go up into the mount.
14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
And Moses came down from the mount to the people, and sanctified them. And when they had washed their garments,
15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
He said to them: Be ready against the third day, and come not near your wives.
16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
And now the third day was come, and the morning appeared: and behold thunders began to be heard, and lightning to flash, and a very thick cloud to cover the mount, and the noise of the trumpet sounded exceeding loud, and the people that was in the camp, feared.
17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
And when Moses had brought them forth to meet God from the place of the camp, they stood at the bottom of the mount.
18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
And all mount Sinai was on a smoke: because the Lord was come down upon it in fire, and the smoke arose from it as out of a furnace: and all the mount was terrible.
19 And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
And the sound of the trumpet grew by degrees louder and louder, and was drawn out to a greater length: Moses spoke, and God answered him.
20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,
And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, in the very top of the mount, and he called Moses unto the top thereof. And when he was gone up thither,
21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.
He said unto him: Go down, and charge the people: lest they should have a mind to pass the limits to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them should perish.
22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
The priests also that come to the Lord, let them be sanctified, lest he strike them.
23 But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
And Moses said to the Lord: The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou did charge, and command, saying: Set limits about the mount, and sanctify it.
24 And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”
And the Lord said to him: Go, get thee down: and thou shalt come up, thou and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people pass the limits, nor come up to the Lord, lest he kill them.
25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
And Moses went down to the people and told them all.

< Exodus 19 >