< Exodus 19 >

1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
And in the third month of the departure of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came into the wilderness of Sina.
2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
And they departed from Raphidin, and came into the wilderness of Sina, and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
And Moses went up to the mount of God, and God called him out of the mountain, saying, These things shall you say to the house of Jacob, and you shall report them to the children 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 all that I have done to the Egyptians, and I took you up as upon eagles' wings, and I brought you near to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from amongst all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
And now if you will indeed hear my voice, and keep my covenant, you shall be to me a peculiar people above all nations; for the whole 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 shall be to me a royal priesthood and a holy nation: these words shall you speak to the children of Israel.
7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and he set before them all these words, which God appointed them.
8 All the people answered together, and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.
And all the people answered with one accord, and said, All things that God has spoken, we will do and listen to: and Moses reported these words to God.
9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, 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 the LORD.
And the Lord said to Moses, Behold! I come to you in a pillar of a cloud, that the people may hear me speaking to you, and may believe you for ever: and Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
10 The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
And the Lord said to Moses, Go down and solemnly charge the people, and sanctify them today and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments.
11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
And let them be ready against the third day, for on the third day the Lord will descend upon mount Sina before all the people.
12 You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
And you shall separate the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves that you go not up into the mountain, nor touch any part of it: every one that touches the mountain shall surely die.
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 shofar sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”
A hand shall not touch it, for [every one that touches] shall be stoned with stones or shot through with a dart, whether beast or whether man, it shall not live: when the voices and trumpets and cloud depart from off the mountain, they shall come up on the mountain.
14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
And Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified them, and they washed their clothes.
15 He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.”
And he said to the people, Be ready: for three days come not near to a woman.
16 On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud shofar; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.
And it came to pass on the third day, as the morning drew near, there were voices and lightnings and a dark cloud on mount Sina: the voice of the trumpet sounded loud, and all the people in the camp trembled.
17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
And Moses led the people forth out of the camp to meet God, and they stood by under the camp.
18 All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
The mount of Sina was altogether on a smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed.
19 When the sound of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
And the sounds of the trumpet were waxing very much louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.
20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
And the Lord came down upon mount Sina on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
And God spoke to Moses, saying, Go down, and solemnly charge the people, lest at any time they draw near to God to gaze, and a multitude of them fall.
22 Let the priests also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break out on them.”
And let the priests that draw near to the Lord God sanctify themselves, destroy some of them.
23 Moses said to the LORD, “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 God, The people will not be able to approach to the mount of Sina, for you have solemnly charged us, saying, Set bounds to the mountain and sanctify it.
24 The LORD said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them.”
And the Lord said to him, Go, descend, and come up you and Aaron with you; but let not the priests and the people force their way to come up to God, lest the Lord destroy some of them.
25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
And Moses went down to the people, and spoke to them.

< Exodus 19 >