19 1-2 After the Israelites left Rephidim, they went into the Sinai desert. The Israelites put up their tents in the desert, at the side of Sinai mountain. That happened on the first day of the third month since they came out of Egypt.
3 Moses went up the mountain to speak with God. The Lord spoke to him from the mountain. He said, ‘This is what you must say to the Israelites, Jacob's descendants: 4 “You yourselves have seen what I did against the Egyptians. You know how I took care of you. I carried you carefully, like an eagle carries her babies on her wings. I brought you here to come to me. 5 Now you must be careful to obey me and my covenant with you. Then you will belong to me as my special people. The whole earth belongs to me, and I have chosen you from among all the nations. 6 You will be my priests who serve in my kingdom. You will be a nation that is special to me.” These are the words that you must speak to the Israelites.’
7 So Moses came back down from the mountain. He brought together all the leaders of the Israelites. He told them all the words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 The people all replied together. They said, ‘We will do everything that the Lord has said.’ Then Moses repeated their answer to the Lord .
9 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will come to you in a thick cloud. Then the people will hear me when I speak to you. Then they will always believe what you say.’ Moses told the Lord the words that the people had said.
10 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people. Make them ready to meet with me. Today and tomorrow they must wash their clothes. 11 They must be ready on the third day. On that day, I will come down on Sinai mountain, so that all the people see me. 12 Make a line round the edge of the mountain so that the people do not cross it. Say to them, “Be careful! Do not go up the mountain or even touch the edge of it. If any people or animals touch the mountain, they must die. 13 Nobody must go near them. You must throw stones at them to kill them. Or you must shoot arrows at them. You must not let them live, whether they are people or animals.” The people must wait until they hear the sound of a trumpet. When they hear a long noise, then they may go up on the mountain.’
14 Then Moses came down from the mountain to speak to the people. He told them to make themselves ready for God. So the people washed their clothes. 15 Then Moses said to them, ‘Prepare yourselves for the third day. While you wait, do not have sex with your wives, or anyone.’
16 On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was there over the mountain. The people heard the noise of a loud trumpet. They were so afraid that their bodies were shaking.
17 Then Moses led the people away from their tents to meet with God. They went and they stood at the edge of the mountain. 18 Smoke covered Sinai mountain because the Lord had come down on the mountain, like a fire. The smoke rose up from the mountain, like smoke from a great fire. The whole mountain shook very much. 19 The noise of the trumpet became louder and louder. Moses spoke to God and God answered him with a loud voice.
20 The Lord came down onto the top of Sinai mountain. Then the Lord told Moses that he must come up to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain. 21 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down to the people. Warn them that they must stay away from the mountain. They must not cross the line to try to see me, the Lord . If they do that, many of them will die. 22 Even the priests must make themselves clean before they come near to me. If they do not obey this command, I will punish them. I am the Lord .’
23 Moses said to the Lord , ‘The people cannot come up Sinai mountain. You warned us that we must make a line round the edge of the mountain. You said that we must make the mountain a special place.’
24 The Lord replied, ‘Now go back down. Then bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must stay where they are. They must not try to come up here where I am. If they come across the line, I will punish them.’
25 So Moses went down to the people. He told them what the Lord had said.
19 The Israelites reached the desert of Sinai in the third month of their trip from Egypt. 2 They had traveled from Rephidim to the Sinai desert. The Israelites camped in the desert near Mount Sinai. 3 Then Moses climbed up the mountain to meet with God. The Lord spoke to him on the mountain and said, “Tell this to the Israelites, the great family of Jacob: 4 ‘You people saw what I did to the people of Egypt. You saw that I carried you out of Egypt like an eagle and brought you here to me. 5 So now I tell you to obey my commands and keep my agreement. So if you do this, you will be my own special people. The whole world belongs to me, but I am choosing you to be my own special people. 6 You will be a special nation—a kingdom of priests.’ Moses, you must tell the Israelites what I have said.”
7 So Moses climbed down the mountain and called the elders of the people together. Moses told the elders everything the Lord had commanded him to tell them. 8 All the people spoke at the same time and said, “We will obey everything the Lord says.”
Then Moses went back up the mountain and told the Lord that the people would obey him. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in the thick cloud. I will speak to you. All the people will hear me talking to you. I will do this so that they will always believe what you tell them.”
Then Moses told God everything the people had said.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Today and tomorrow you must prepare the people for a special meeting. They must wash their clothes 11 and be ready for me on the third day. On the third day, the Lord will come down to Mount Sinai. And all the people will see me. 12-13 But you must tell the people to stay away from the mountain. Make a line and don’t let them cross it. Any person or animal that touches the mountain must be killed with stones or shot with arrows. But don’t let anyone touch them. The people must wait until the trumpet blows. Only then can they go up the mountain.”
14 So Moses climbed down the mountain and went to the people. He got them ready for the special meeting and they washed their clothes.
15 Then Moses said to the people, “Be ready for the meeting with God in three days. Until that time do not have sexual relations.”
16 On the morning of the third day, a thick cloud came down onto the mountain. There was thunder and lightning and a very loud sound from a trumpet. All the people in the camp were frightened. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to a place near the mountain to meet God. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke. Smoke rose off the mountain like smoke from a furnace. This happened because the Lord came down to the mountain in fire. Also the whole mountain began to shake. 19 The noise from the trumpet became louder and louder. Every time Moses spoke to God, God answered him with a voice like thunder.
20 So the Lord came down to Mount Sinai. He came from heaven to the top of the mountain. Then he called Moses to come up to the top of the mountain with him. So Moses went up the mountain.
21 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to come near me and look at me. If they do, many will die. 22 Also tell the priests who come near the Lord that they must prepare themselves for this special meeting. If they don’t, I, the Lord , will punish them.”
23 Moses said to the Lord , “But the people cannot come up the mountain. You yourself told us to make a line and not allow the people to cross the line to holy ground.”
24 The Lord said to him, “Go down to the people. Get Aaron and bring him back with you. But don’t let the priests or the people come near me. I will punish them if they come too close.”
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them these things.
19 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord .
9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord .
10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.
22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord , sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.
23 And Moses said unto the Lord , The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
24 And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord , lest he break forth upon them.
25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
19 ( A ) In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, [ a ] on that very day they came into the wilderness of ( B ) Sinai. 2 When they set out from ( C ) Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of ( D ) the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and ( E ) the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘ ( F ) You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on ( G ) eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, ( H ) if you will indeed obey My voice and ( I ) keep My covenant, then you shall be ( J ) My [ b ] own possession among all the peoples, for ( K ) all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me ( L ) a kingdom of priests and ( M ) a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
7 ( N ) So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then ( O ) all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord . 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in ( P ) a thick cloud, so that the ( Q ) people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord .
10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and ( R ) consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them ( S ) wash their garments; 11 and have them ready for the third day, for on ( T ) the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘ [ c ] Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; ( U ) whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but ( V ) he shall certainly be stoned or [ d ] shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to ( W ) the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He also said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
16 ( X ) So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [ e ] thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the [ f ] foot of the mountain.
18 ( Y ) Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it ( Z ) in fire; and its smoke ascended like ( AA ) the smoke of a furnace, and ( AB ) the entire mountain [ g ] quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and ( AC ) God answered him with [ h ] thunder. 20 Then ( AD ) the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, [ i ] warn the people, so that ( AE ) they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them [ j ] perish. 22 Also have the ( AF ) priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord , “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [ k ] warned us, saying, ‘ ( AG ) Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “ [ l ] Go down and come up again , ( AH ) you and Aaron with you; but do not let the ( AI ) priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord , or He will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt ( A ) —on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. ( B ) 2 After they set out from Rephidim, ( C ) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. ( D )
3 Then Moses went up to God, ( E ) and the Lord called ( F ) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, ( G ) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings ( H ) and brought you to myself. ( I ) 5 Now if you obey me fully ( J ) and keep my covenant, ( K ) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. ( L ) Although the whole earth ( M ) is mine, 6 you [ a ] will be for me a kingdom of priests ( N ) and a holy nation.’ ( O ) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders ( P ) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. ( Q ) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” ( R ) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord .
9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, ( S ) so that the people will hear me speaking ( T ) with you and will always put their trust ( U ) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate ( V ) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes ( W ) 11 and be ready by the third day, ( X ) because on that day the Lord will come down ( Y ) on Mount Sinai ( Z ) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits ( AA ) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned ( AB ) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn ( AC ) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” ( AD )
14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. ( AE ) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain ( AF ) from sexual relations.”
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder ( AG ) and lightning, with a thick cloud ( AH ) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. ( AI ) Everyone in the camp trembled. ( AJ ) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ( AK ) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, ( AL ) because the Lord descended on it in fire. ( AM ) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, ( AN ) and the whole mountain [ b ] trembled ( AO ) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice ( AP ) of God answered ( AQ ) him. [ c ]
20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai ( AR ) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see ( AS ) the Lord and many of them perish. ( AT ) 22 Even the priests, who approach ( AU ) the Lord , must consecrate ( AV ) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.” ( AW )
23 Moses said to the Lord , “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, ( AX ) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits ( AY ) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron ( AZ ) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord , or he will break out against them.” ( BA )
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
