Exodus 19
1 Two months to the day after they left Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the Sinai desert.
以色列子民離開埃及國後，第三個月初一那一天，到了西乃曠野。
2 They had set out from Rephidim, and after they entered the Sinai desert they camped there in front of the mountain.
他們從勒非丁起程，來到西乃曠野，就在曠野中安了營；以色列人在那坐山前安了營。
3 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:
梅瑟上到天主前，上主從山上召喚他說：你要這樣告訴亞各伯家，訓示以色列子民說：
4 ‘You saw for yourselves what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings, how I brought you to myself.
你們親自見了我怎樣對待了埃及人，怎樣好似鷹將你們背在翅膀上，將你們帶出來歸屬我。
5 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,
現在你們若真聽我的話，遵守我的盟約，你們在萬民中將成為我的特殊產業。的確，普世全屬於我，
6 for me you will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’ This is what you are to tell the Israelites.”
但你們為我應成為司祭的國家，聖潔的國民。你應將這話訓示以色列子民。」
7 So Moses went back down and summoned the elders of the people, and presented to them everything the Lord had ordered him to say.
梅瑟就去召集百姓的長老，將上主吩咐他的那一切話，都在他們前說明了。
8 Everyone answered, “We promise to do everything the Lord says.” Then Moses took the people's answer back to the Lord.
眾百姓一致回答說：「凡上主所吩咐的，我們全要作。」梅瑟遂將百姓的答覆轉達於上主。
9 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.
上主向梅瑟說：「我要在濃雲中降到你前，叫百姓聽見我與你談話，使他們永遠信服你。」梅瑟遂向上主呈報了百姓的答覆。結約的準備
10 The Lord told Moses, “Go back down and prepare them spiritually today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
上主向梅瑟說：「你到百姓那裏，叫他們今天明天聖潔自己，洗淨自己的衣服。
11 and be ready on the third day because that is when the Lord will descend upon Mount Sinai in the full view of everyone.
第三天都準備妥當，因為第三天，少主要在百姓觀望之下降到西乃山上。
12 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.
你要給百姓在山周圍劃定界限說：應小心，不可上山，也不可觸摸山腳；凡觸摸那山的，應處死刑。
13 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.”
誰也不可用手觸摸那人，而應用石頭砸死或用箭射死；不論是獸是人，都不得生存；號角響起的時候，他們才可上山。」
14 Moses went down the mountain and prepared the people spiritually and they washed their clothes.
梅瑟下山來到百姓那裏，叫他們聖潔自己，洗淨自己的衣服。
15 He instructed the people, “Get ready for the third day, and don't be intimate with a woman.”
他向百姓說：「到第三天應準備妥當，不可接近女人。」天主顯現
16 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.
到了第三天早晨，山上雷電交作，濃雲密布，角聲齊鳴，此時在營中的百姓都戰戰兢兢。
17 Moses led the people out from the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.
梅瑟叫百姓從營中出來迎接天主，他們都站在山下。
18 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.
此時西乃全山冒煙，因為上主在火中降到山上；冒出的煙像火窯的煙，全山猛烈振動。
19 As the sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in a loud, thunderous voice.
角生越響越高；梅瑟遂開始說話，天住藉雷霆答覆他。
20 The Lord descended on the top of Mount Sinai, and he called Moses to come up there. So Moses went up,
上主降到西乃山頂上，召梅瑟上到山頂；梅瑟就上去了。
21 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.
上主向梅瑟說：「下去通告百姓：不可闖到上主面前觀看，免得許多人死亡。
22 Even the priests, who come before the Lord, must prepare themselves spiritually, so that the Lord does not punish them.”
連那些接近上主的司祭們，也應聖潔自己，免得上主擊殺他們。」
23 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.’”
梅瑟答覆上主說：「百姓不能上西乃山，因你自己曾通告我們說：要在山的四周劃定界限，也宣佈這山是不可侵犯的。」
24 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.”
上主向他說：「下去，你同亞郎一起上來，但司祭和百姓不可闖到上主前，免得我擊殺他們。」
25 So Moses went down and explained to the people what the Lord had said.
梅瑟便下到百姓那裏，通知了他們。
