Exodus 24

1 And unto Moses, he said—Come up unto Yahweh—thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, so shall ye bow yourselves down from afar.

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 And Moses alone shall draw near unto Yahweh, but, they shall not draw near, and, the people, shall not come up with him.

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

3 So Moses came, and recounted to the people all the words of Yahweh, and all the regulations, and all the people responded with one voice and said, All the words which Yahweh hath spoken, will we do.

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 Then wrote Moses all the words of Yahweh, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar, under the mountain, and twelve pillars, for 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 and he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they caused to go up, ascending-sacrifices, —and slew peace-offerings to Yahweh, of oxen.

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

6 Then took Moses half of the blood, and put it in basins, and half of the blood, dashed he over 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 took he the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, All that Yahweh hath spoken, will we do, and will hearken,

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 Then Moses took the blood, and dashed over the people, and said, Lo! the blood of the covenant which Yahweh hath solemnised with you, over all these words.

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 went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel;

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

10 and they saw the God of Israel, —and under his feet, like a pavement of sapphire, and like the very heavens for brightness; and

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 against the nobles of the sons of Israel, put he not forth his hand, —so then they had vision of God, and did eat and drink,

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 said Yahweh unto Moses—Come thou up unto me in the mountain and remain thou there, —for I must give thee tables of stone and the law and the commandment, which I have written to direct them.

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 And Moses rose up, and Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up into the mountain of God;

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

14 but, unto the elders, he said—Tarry for us here, until we return unto you. And lo! Aaron and Hur, are with you, he that hath a cause, let him draw near unto 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 So then Moses wont up into the mountain, —and the cloud covered the mountain.

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

16 And the glory of Yahweh rested upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days, —then called he unto Moses on the seventh day, out of the midst of 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 And the appearance of the glory of Yahweh was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain, —in the sight of the sons of Israel.

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 And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud and ascended into the mountain. And it came to pass that Moses was in the mountain forty days and forty nights.

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