Exodus 19
1 Two months to the day after they left Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the Sinai desert.
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
2 They had set out from Rephidim, and after they entered the Sinai desert they camped there in front of the mountain.
When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
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:
Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
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.
‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.
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,
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
6 for me you will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’ This is what you are to tell the Israelites.”
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
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.
Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 Everyone answered, “We promise to do everything the Lord says.” Then Moses took the people's answer back to the Lord.
All the people answered together, and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.
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.
The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
10 The Lord told Moses, “Go back down and prepare them spiritually today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
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.
and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
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.
You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you do not go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
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.”
No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”
14 Moses went down the mountain and prepared the people spiritually and they washed their clothes.
Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15 He instructed the people, “Get ready for the third day, and don't be intimate with a woman.”
He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with a woman.”
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.
On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
17 Moses led the people out from the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
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.
All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19 As the sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in a loud, thunderous voice.
When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
20 The Lord descended on the top of Mount Sinai, and he called Moses to come up there. So Moses went up,
The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
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.
The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
22 Even the priests, who come before the Lord, must prepare themselves spiritually, so that the Lord does not punish them.”
Let the priests also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break out on them.”
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.’”
Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
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.”
The LORD said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.”
25 So Moses went down and explained to the people what the Lord had said.
So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
