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.
Two months to the day after they left Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the Sinai desert.
2 After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
They had set out from Rephidim, and after they entered the Sinai desert they camped there in front of 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:
Moses went up the mountain to God. The Lord spoke to Moses from the mountain, and told him, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob, the Israelites:
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 saw for yourselves what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings, how I brought 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.
Now if you really obey what I say and keep the agreement with me, then out of all the nations you will be a special people that belong to me. While the whole world 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.”
for me you will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’ This is what you are to tell the Israelites.”
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.
So Moses went back down and summoned the elders of the people, and presented to them everything the Lord had ordered him to say.
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.
Everyone answered, “We promise to do everything the Lord says.” Then Moses took the people's answer back 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 told Moses, “Look! I'm going to come to you in a thick cloud so the people will hear me speaking with you and as a result they will always trust you.” Then Moses reported to the Lord what the people had said.
10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
The Lord told Moses, “Go back down and prepare them spiritually today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
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 be ready on the third day because that is when the Lord will descend upon Mount Sinai in the full view of everyone.
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.
Set up a boundary for the people all around and warn them, ‘Watch out! Don't try to go up the mountain—don't even touch it! For anyone who touches the mountain will most certainly be killed. Don't touch any person or any animal that has touched the mountain.
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.”
Make sure they are stoned or shot with arrows—they must not be allowed to live.’ Only when there is a long blast on the ram's horn can the people come up the mountain.”
14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
Moses went down the mountain and prepared the people spiritually and they washed their clothes.
15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
He instructed the people, “Get ready for the third day, and don't be intimate with a woman.”
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.
When morning came on the third day there was thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud covered the mountain. There was the very loud sound of a ram's horn, and everyone in the camp shook with fear.
17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
Moses led the people out from the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.
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.
Smoke poured out over the whole of Mount Sinai because the Lord's presence had come down like fire. The smoke rose up like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook furiously.
19 And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
As the sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in a loud, thunderous voice.
20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,
The Lord descended on the top of Mount Sinai, and he called Moses to come up there. So Moses went up,
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.
and the Lord told him, “Go back down, and warn the people not to force their way across the boundary to try to come to the Lord or they will die.
22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
Even the priests, who come before the Lord, must prepare themselves spiritually, so that the Lord does not punish 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.’”
But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai. You yourself warned us, ‘Set up a boundary around the mountain, and treat it as holy.’”
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.”
The Lord told him, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way to come up to the Lord, or he will punish them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
So Moses went down and explained to the people what the Lord had said.
