Exodus 19
1 In the third month of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in this day they have come into the wilderness of Sinai,
In the third month after the children of Israel went out from Egypt, on the same day, they came into the waste land of Sinai.
2 and they journey from Rephidim, and enter the wilderness of Sinai, and encamp in the wilderness; and Israel encamps there before the mountain.
And when they had gone away from Rephidim and had come into the waste land of Sinai, they put up their tents in the waste land before the mountain: there Israel put up its tents.
3 And Moses has gone up to God, and YHWH calls to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you say to the house of Jacob, and declare to the sons of Israel:
And Moses went up to God, and the voice of the Lord came to him from the mountain, saying, Say to the family of Jacob, and give word to the children of Israel:
4 You have seen that which I have done to the Egyptians, and [how] I carry you on eagles’ wings and bring you to Myself.
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I took you, as on eagles' wings, guiding you to myself.
5 And now, if you really listen to My voice, then you have kept My covenant, and have been a special treasure to Me more than all the peoples, for all the earth [is] Mine;
If now you will truly give ear to my voice and keep my agreement, you will be my special property out of all the peoples: for all the earth is mine:
6 and you are to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation: these [are] the words which you speak to the sons of Israel.”
And you will be a kingdom of priests to me, and a holy nation. These are the words which you are to say to the children of Israel.
7 And Moses comes, and calls for [the] elderly of the people, and sets before them all these words which YHWH has commanded him;
And Moses came and sent for the chiefs of the people and put before them all these words which the Lord had given him orders to say.
8 and all the people answer together and say, “All that YHWH has spoken we do”; and Moses returns the words of the people to YHWH.
And all the people, answering together, said, Whatever the Lord has said we will do. And Moses took back to the Lord the words of the people.
9 And YHWH says to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people hear in My speaking with you, and also believe in you for all time”; and Moses declares the words of the people to YHWH.
And the Lord said to Moses, See, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that what I say to you may come to the ears of the people and they may have belief in you for ever. And Moses gave the Lord word of what the people had said.
10 And YHWH says to Moses, “Go to the people and you have sanctified them today and tomorrow, and they have washed their garments,
And the Lord said to Moses, Go to the people and make them holy today and tomorrow, and let their clothing be washed.
11 and have been prepared for the third day; for on the third day YHWH comes down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.
And by the third day let them be ready: for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai, before the eyes of all the people.
12 And you have made a border [for] the people all around, saying, Take heed to yourselves, going up into the mountain or coming against its extremity; whoever is coming against the mountain is certainly put to death;
And let limits be marked out for the people round the mountain, and say to them, Take care not to go up the mountain or near the sides of it: whoever puts his foot on the mountain will certainly come to his death:
13 a hand does not come against him, for he is certainly stoned or shot through, whether beast or man—it does not live; in the prolonging of the ram’s horn they go up into the mountain.”
He is not to be touched by a hand, but is to be stoned or have an arrow put through him; man or beast, he is to be put to death: at the long sounding of a horn they may come up to the mountain.
14 And Moses comes down from the mountain to the people, and sanctifies the people, and they wash their garments;
Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and made the people holy; and their clothing was washed.
15 and he says to the people, “Be prepared for the third day, do not come near to a woman.”
And he said to the people, Be ready by the third day: do not come near a woman.
16 And it comes to pass, on the third day, while it is morning, that there are voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very strong horn; and all the people who [are] in the camp tremble.
And when morning came on the third day, there were thunders and flames and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a horn sounding very loud; and all the people in the tents were shaking with fear.
17 And Moses brings out the people from the camp to meet God, and they station themselves at the lower part of the mountain,
And Moses made the people come out of their tents and take their places before God; and they came to the foot of the mountain,
18 and Mount Sinai [is] wholly [in] smoke from the presence of YHWH, who has come down on it in fire, and its smoke goes up as smoke of the furnace, and the whole mountain trembles exceedingly;
And all the mountain of Sinai was smoking, for the Lord had come down on it in fire: and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a great burning; and all the mountain was shaking.
19 and the sound of the horn is going on, and [is] very strong; Moses speaks, and God answers him with a voice.
And when the sound of the horn became louder and louder, Moses' words were answered by the voice of God.
20 And YHWH comes down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and YHWH calls for Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses goes up.
Then the Lord came down on to Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and the Lord sent for Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 And YHWH says to Moses, “Go down, protest to the people, lest they break through to YHWH to see, and many of them have fallen;
And the Lord said to Moses, Go down and give the people orders to keep back, for fear that a great number of them, forcing their way through to see the Lord, may come to destruction.
22 and also the priests who are coming near to YHWH sanctify themselves, lest YHWH break forth on them.”
And let the priests who come near to the Lord make themselves holy, for fear that the Lord may come on them suddenly.
23 And Moses says to YHWH, “The people [are] unable to come up to Mount Sinai, for You have protested to us, saying, Make a border [for] the mountain, then you have sanctified it.”
And Moses said to the Lord, The people will not be able to come up the mountain, for you gave us orders to put limits round the mountain, marking it out and making it holy.
24 And YHWH says to him, “Go, descend, then you have come up, you and Aaron with you; and the priests and the people do not break through to come up to YHWH, lest He break forth on them.”
And the Lord said to him, Go down, and you and Aaron may come up; but let not the priests and the people make their way through to the Lord, or he will come on them suddenly.
25 And Moses goes down to the people and speaks to them.
So Moses went down to the people and said this to them.
