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.
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.
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:
4 ‘You
have seen what
I did to
the Egyptians, and
how I bore
you on eagles’
wings, and brought
you to 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;
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.”
7 Moses
came and called
for the elders
of the people,
and set before
them all these
words which the
LORD 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.
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.
10 The
LORD said to Moses,
“Go to the
people, and
sanctify them
today and tomorrow,
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.
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.
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.”
14 Moses
went down from
the mountain to
the people, and
sanctified 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.”
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 trumpet; 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.
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.
19 When
the sound of
the trumpet grew
louder and louder,
Moses spoke,
and God answered
him by 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.
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.
22 Let the
priests also, who
come near to
the LORD, sanctify
themselves, lest
the LORD break
out on 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.’ ”
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.”
25 So
Moses went down
to the people,
and told them.