Exodus 19
1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
In the third month of the departure of Israel from the land of Egypt, in that day, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai.
2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mountain.
Thus, setting out from Raphidim, and going directly to the desert of Sinai, they encamped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents away from the region of the mountain.
3 Moses went up to God, and God called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
Then Moses ascended to God. And the Lord called to him from the mountain, and he said: “This you shall say to the house of Jacob, and announce to the sons of Israel:
4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself.
‘You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, in what way I carried you upon the wings of eagles and how I have taken you for myself.
5 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;
If, therefore, you will hear my voice, and you will keep my covenant, you will be to me a particular possession out of all people. For all the earth is mine.
6 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."
And you will be to me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the sons of Israel.”
7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which God commanded him.
Moses went, and calling together those greater by birth among the people, he set forth all the words which the Lord had commanded.
8 All the people answered together, and said, "All that God has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to God.
And all the people responded together: “Everything that the Lord has spoken, we shall do.” And when Moses had related the words of the people to the Lord,
9 Jehovah said to Moses, "Look, 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 Jehovah.
the Lord said to him: “Soon now, I will come to you in the mist of a cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking to you, and so that they may believe you continuously.” Therefore, Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord,
10 Jehovah said to Moses, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
who said to him: “Go to the people, and sanctify them today, and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments.
11 and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
And let them be prepared on the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will descend, in the sight of all the people, over Mount Sinai.
12 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.
And you will establish limits for the people all around, and you will say to them: ‘Take care not to ascend to the mountain, and that you do not touch its parts. All who touch the mountain, shall die a death.’
13 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."
Hands shall not touch him, but he shall be crushed with stones, or he shall be pierced through with darts. Whether it be a beast or a man, he shall not live. For when the trumpet begins to sound, perhaps they might go up toward the mountain.”
14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
And Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and he sanctified them. And when they had washed their garments,
15 He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with a woman."
he said to them, “Be prepared on the third day, and do not draw near to your wives.”
16 It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that 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.
And now, the third day arrived and the morning dawned. And behold, thunders began to be heard, and also lightning flashed, and a very dense cloud covered the mountain, and the noise of the trumpet resounded vehemently. And the people who were in the camp were fearful.
17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
And when Moses had led them out to meet God, from the place of the camp, they stood at the base of the mountain.
18 And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because God descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
Then all of Mount Sinai was smoking. For the Lord had descended over it with fire, and smoke ascended from it, as from a furnace. And the entire mountain was terrible.
19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
And the sound of the trumpet gradually increased to be louder, and extended to be longer. Moses was speaking, and God was answering him.
20 Jehovah came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
And the Lord descended over Mount Sinai, to the very top of the mountain, and he called Moses to its summit. And when he had ascended there,
21 God said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to God to look, and many of them perish.
he said to him: “Descend, and call the people to witness, lest they might be willing to transgress the limits, so as to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them might perish.
22 Let the priests also, who come near to God, sanctify themselves, or Jehovah will break out against them."
Likewise, the priests who approach toward the Lord, let them be sanctified, lest he strike them down.”
23 Moses said to God, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"
And Moses said to the Lord: “The people are not able to ascend to Mount Sinai. For you testified, and you commanded, saying: ‘Set limits around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
24 Jehovah said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aaron up with you, but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up God, or he will break out against them."
And the Lord said to him, “Go, descend. And you shall ascend, and Aaron with you. But let not the priests or the people transgress the limits, nor ascend to the Lord, lest perhaps he may put them to death.”
25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
And Moses descended to the people, and he explained everything to them.
