< 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.
In the third month, by the coming forth of the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, on this day, came they into the desert of Sinai:
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.
then was it that they brake up out of Rephidim and came into the desert of Sinai, and encamped in the desert, —yea Israel encamped there 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 when Moses, had gone up unto God, then called Yahweh unto him out of the mountain saying, Thus, shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, And tell 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.
Ye, have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, —And how I bare you upon wings of eagles, And brought you in unto 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;
Now, therefore, if ye will, indeed hearken, to my voice, And keep my covenant, Then shall ye be mine as a treasure beyond all the peoples, For, mine, is all the earth;
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.”
But, ye, shall be mine, As a kingdom of priests, And a holy nation. These, are the words, which thou shalt speak unto the sons 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.
Then came Moses, and called for the elders of the people, —and put before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him.
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 responded together and said, All that Yahweh hath spoken, will we do. And Moses took back the words of the people, unto Yahweh.
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.
Then said Yahweh unto Moses: Lo! I, am coming unto thee in the veiling of cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with thee, moreover also, that, in thee, they may trust to times age-abiding. Then told Moses the words of the people unto Yahweh.
10 The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
And Yahweh said unto Moses—Go unto the people, and thou shalt hallow them to-day, and to-morrow, —and they shall wash their clothes;
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 shall be ready, by the third day, —for on the third day, will Yahweh come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.
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.
So then thou shalt set bounds for the people round about saying, Take heed to yourselves—that ye go not up into the mountain, nor touch the boundary thereof, whosoever toucheth 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.”
No hand shall touch it but he shall be, surely stoned, or be, surely shot, whether beast or man, he shall not live, —When the ram’s horn soundeth, they themselves, shall come up within the mount,
14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Then Moses went down out of the mount, unto the people, —and hallowed the people, 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 unto the people, Be ready, by the third day, —do not approach 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, when the morning had come, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a heavy cloud upon the mount, and the sound of a horn, loud exceedingly, —and all the people who were 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 brought forth the people, to meet God out of the camp, —and they stationed themselves in the lower part of the mount,
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.
And Mount Sinai, smoked, all over, because Yahweh had come down thereon in fire, —and the smoke thereof went up as the smoke of a furnace, and all the mountain trembled exceedingly.
19 When the sound of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
And as oft as the sound of the horn went on and became exceeding loud, Moses, spake and, God, responded to 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.
Thus came Yahweh down upon Mount Sinai unto the top of the mount, —and Yahweh called Moses unto the top of the mount, 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.
Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Go down, adjure the people, —lest they press through unto Yahweh to see, and so there fall from among them a multitude.
22 Let the priests also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break out on them.”
Yea, even the priests who do approach unto Yahweh, must hallow themselves, —lest Yahweh break in upon 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 unto Yahweh, The people cannot come up into Mount Sinai, —for, thou thyself, hast adjured us saying: Set bounds to the mountain and hallow 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 Yahweh said unto him—Away, down, then shalt thou come up, thou and Aaron with thee, —but as for the priests and the people, let it not be that they press through to come up unto Yahweh lest he break in upon them.
25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
So Moses went down unto the people, —and said [these things] unto them.

< Exodus 19 >