< Exodus 19 >

1 In the third month, after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
In the third month after the people of Israel had gone out from the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the wilderness of Sinai.
2 For they had departed from Rephidim, and they came to the desert of Sinai, and encamped in the wilderness; and Israel encamped there opposite the mount.
After they left Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai, they camped in the wilderness in front of the mountain.
3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him from the mount, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel.
Moses went up to God. Yahweh called to him from the mountain and said, “You must tell the house of Jacob, the people of Israel:
4 Ye have yourselves seen what I have done unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will truly obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then shall ye be unto me a peculiar treasure above all nations; for all the earth is mine:
Now then, if you obediently listen to my voice and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession from among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation; these are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for me. These are the words that you must speak to the people of Israel.”
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him.
So Moses came and summoned the elders of the people. He set before them all these words that Yahweh had commanded him.
8 And all the people answered unanimously, and said, all that the Lord hath spoken will we do; and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.
All the people answered together and said, “We will do everything that Yahweh has said.” Then Moses came to report the people's words to Yahweh.
9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, I will come unto thee in a thick cloud, for the sake that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and that also in thee they shall believe for ever; and Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.
Yahweh said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe you forever.” Then Moses told the people's words to Yahweh.
10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people. Today and tomorrow you must set them apart to me, and make them wash their garments.
11 And they shall be ready against the third day; for on the third day will the Lord come down, before the eyes of all the people, upon mount Sinai.
Be ready for the third day, for on the third day Yahweh will come down to Mount Sinai.
12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people, round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, nor touch the border of it; whosoever toucheth the mount shall surely be put to death.
You must set boundaries all around the mountain for the people. Say to them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death.'
13 Yet not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when the trumpet soundeth long, they may come up to the mount.
No one's hand must touch such a person. Instead, he must certainly be stoned or shot. Whether it is a person or an animal, he must be put to death. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may come up to the foot of the mountain.”
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people: and they washed their clothes.
Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He set apart the people to Yahweh and they washed their garments.
15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day; approach not unto a woman.
He said to the people, “Be ready on the third day; do not go near your wives.”
16 And it came to pass on the third day when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a heavy cloud was upon the mount, and the voice of the cornet was exceedingly loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled.
On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunder and lightning bolts and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud trumpet. All the people in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they placed themselves at the foot of the mount.
Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 And mount Sinai smoked in every part, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because Yahweh descended on it in fire and smoke. The smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.
19 And the voice of the cornet went on, and waxed louder and louder; Moses spoke, and God answered him with a loud voice.
When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in a voice.
20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount; and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount, and Moses went up.
Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and he summoned Moses to the top. So Moses went up.
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them might perish.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to me to look, or many of them will perish.
22 And the priests also, who come near to the Lord, shall sanctify themselves; lest the Lord break forth among them.
Let the priests also who come near to me set themselves apart—prepare themselves for my coming—so that I do not attack them.”
23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou hast charged us, saying, Set bounds about the mount and sanctify it.
Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you commanded us: 'Set boundaries around the mountain and set it apart to Yahweh.'”
24 And the Lord said unto him, Go, get thee down, and then shalt thou come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; but the priests and the people shall not break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth among them.
Yahweh said to him, “Go, get down the mountain, and bring up Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people break through the barrier to come up to me, or I will attack them.”
25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spoke unto them.
So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

< Exodus 19 >