1 I n the third month after the departure of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they the wilderness of Sinai:

2 t hey departed from Rephidim, and came the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in the wilderness; and Israel encamped there before the mountain.

3 A nd Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

4 Y e have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and I have borne you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

5 A nd now, if ye will hearken to my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then shall ye be my own possession out of all the peoples—for all the earth is mine—

6 a nd ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak to the children of Israel.

7 A nd Moses came and called the elders of the people, and laid before the mall these words which Jehovah had commanded him.

8 A nd all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah has spoken will we do! And Moses brought the words of the people back to Jehovah.

9 A nd Jehovah said to Moses, Lo, I will come to thee in the cloud's thick darkness, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee also for ever. And Moses told the words of the people to Jehovah.

10 A nd Jehovah said to Moses, Go to the people, and hallow them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their clothes;

11 a nd let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day Jehovah will come down before the eyes of all the people on mount Sinai.

12 A nd set bounds round about the people, saying, Take heed to yourselves, to go up unto the mountain nor touch the border of it: whatever toucheth the mountain shall certainly be put to death:

13 n ot a hand shall touch it, but it shall certainly be stoned, or shot through; whether it be a beast or a man, it shall not live. When the long drawn note of the trumpet soundeth, they shall come up to the mountain.

14 A nd Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and hallowed the people; and they washed their clothes.

15 A nd he said to the people, Be ready for the third day; do not come near wives.

16 A nd it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of the trumpet exceeding loud; and the whole people that was in the camp trembled.

17 A nd Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 A nd the whole of mount Sinai smoked, because Jehovah descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace; and the whole mountain shook greatly.

19 A nd the sound of the trumpet increased and became exceeding loud; Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

20 A nd Jehovah came down on mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain; and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21 A nd Jehovah said to Moses, Go down, testify to the people that they break not through to Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.

22 A nd the priests also, who come near to Jehovah, shall hallow themselves, lest Jehovah break forth on them.

23 A nd Moses said to Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou hast testified to us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain, and hallow it.

24 A nd Jehovah said to him, Go, descend, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; but the priests and the people shall not break through to go up to Jehovah, lest he break forth on them.

25 S o Moses went down to the people, and told them.