< 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.
And in the third month of the departure of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came into the wilderness of Sina.
2 After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
And they departed from Raphidin, and came into the wilderness of Sina, and there Israel encamped before 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 the mount of God, and God called him out of the mountain, saying, These things shall you say to the house of Jacob, and you shall report them to 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 all that I have done to the Egyptians, and I took you up as upon eagles' wings, and I brought you near 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.
And now if you will indeed hear my voice, and keep my covenant, you shall be to me a peculiar people above all nations; for the whole 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 royal priesthood and a holy nation: these words shall you 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.
And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and he set before them all these words, which God appointed them.
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 with one accord, and said, All things that God has spoken, we will do and listen to: and Moses reported these words to God.
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.
And the Lord said to Moses, Behold! I come to you in a pillar of a cloud, that the people may hear me speaking to you, and may believe you for ever: and Moses reported 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 the Lord said to Moses, Go down and solemnly charge the people, and sanctify them today and to-morrow, 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 descend upon mount Sina before all the people.
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 you shall separate the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves that you go not up into the mountain, nor touch any part of it: every one that touches the mountain shall surely 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.”
A hand shall not touch it, for [every one that touches] shall be stoned with stones or shot through with a dart, whether beast or whether man, it shall not live: when the voices and trumpets and cloud depart from off the mountain, they shall come up on the mountain.
14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
And Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified them, and they washed their clothes.
15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
And he said to the people, Be ready: for three days come not near to 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.
And it came to pass on the third day, as the morning drew near, there were voices and lightnings and a dark cloud on mount Sina: the voice of the trumpet sounded loud, and all the people in the camp trembled.
17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
And Moses led the people forth out of the camp to meet God, and they stood by under the camp.
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.
The mount of Sina was altogether on a smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed.
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 sounds of the trumpet were waxing very much louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.
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 Sina on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and 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 God spoke to Moses, saying, Go down, and solemnly charge the people, lest at any time they draw near to God to gaze, and a multitude of them fall.
22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
And let the priests that draw near to the Lord God sanctify themselves, destroy some of 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 God, The people will not be able to approach to the mount of Sina, for you have solemnly charged us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain 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, descend, and come up you and Aaron with you; but let not the priests and the people force their way to come up to God, lest the Lord destroy some of them.
25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
And Moses went down to the people, and spoke to them.

< Exodus 19 >