Exodus 24

1 The Lord told Moses, “Come up to the Lord—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders. You are to worship at a distance.

He also said to Moses: “Ascend to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders out of Israel, and adore from a distance.

2 Only Moses may approach the Lord—the others must not come near. The people may not go up the mountain with him.”

And only Moses will ascend to the Lord, and these shall not approach. Neither shall the people ascend with him.”

3 Moses went and told the people all the Lord's instructions and regulations. They all responded together: “We will do everything the Lord says!”

Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: “We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.”

4 Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the following morning and built an altar at the bottom of the mountain, and set up twelve pillars for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

5 Then he sent out some young Israelite men who went and offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord.

And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord.

6 Moses put half of the blood into bowls, and sprinkled the other half on the altar.

And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar.

7 Then he picked up the Book of the Agreement and read it to the people. They replied, “We will do everything the Lord says. We will obey.”

And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.”

8 So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is the blood of the agreement that the Lord has made with you following these terms.”

In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.”

9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders climbed up the mountain,

And Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel ascended.

10 and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a tiled pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear blue as the sky itself.

And they saw the God of Israel. And under his feet was something like a work of sapphire stone, or like the sky, when it is serene.

11 But God did not harm the leaders of Israel—they saw him, and they ate and drank a sacred meal.

Neither did he lay his hand upon those of the sons of Israel who were at a distance. And they saw God, and they ate and drank.

12 Then the Lord told Moses, “Come up the mountain to me, and stay here, so I can give you the stone tablets, with the instructions and commands I have written for them to learn.”

Then the Lord said to Moses: “Ascend to me on the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you tablets of stone, and the law and the commandments that I have written. So may you teach them.”

13 So Moses left with Joshua his attendant and climbed up the mountain of God.

Moses rose up, with Joshua his minister. And Moses, ascending on the mountain of God,

14 He told the elders, “Stay here and wait for us to return. Aaron and Hur are with you. If anyone has a problem, they can talk with them.”

said to the elders: “Wait here, until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you. If any question arises, you shall refer it to them.”

15 As Moses climbed up on the mountain, the cloud covered it

And when Moses had ascended, a cloud covered the mountain.

16 The Lord's glory came down on Mount Sinai, covering it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud.

And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a cloud for six days. And on the seventh day, he called to him from the middle of the mist.

17 To the Israelites the Lord's glory looked like a burning fire on the top of the mountain.

Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a burning fire over the summit of the mountain in the sight of the sons of Israel.

18 Moses went into the cloud as he climbed up on the mountain, and he stayed on the mountain for forty days and nights.

And Moses, entering into the midst of the cloud, ascended the mountain. And he was there for forty days and forty nights.