1 ¶ In the third month from when the sons of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

In the third month after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Sinai Desert on the same day.

2 F or they had departed from Rephidim and were come to the desert of Sinai and had pitched in the wilderness, and there Israel camped before the mount.

They had left Rephidim and had come to the Sinai Desert. There Israel set up their tents in front of the mountain.

3 A nd 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 sons of Israel:

And Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Say this to the house of Jacob and tell the people of Israel:

4 Y e have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself.

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

5 N ow therefore, if ye will give ear to hearken unto my voice and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a special treasure unto me above all peoples; for all the earth is mine.

Now then, if you will obey My voice and keep My agreement, you will belong to Me from among all nations. For all the earth is Mine.

6 A nd ye shall be my kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the sons of Israel.

You will be to Me a nation of religious leaders, a holy nation.’ These are the words you will speak to the people of Israel.”

7 T hen Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

So Moses came and called the leaders of the people. He told them all these words which the Lord had told him.

8 A nd all the people answered together and said, All that the LORD has spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

And all the people answered together and said, “We will do all that the Lord has said!” Then Moses went to tell the Lord what the people had said.

9 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, 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.

The Lord said to Moses, “See, I will come to you in a thick cloud. So the people may hear when I speak with you, and may believe you forever.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 A nd the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes

The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart to be holy. Have them wash their clothes.

11 a nd be ready for the third day; for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.

And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day people will see the Lord come down on Mount Sinai.

12 A nd 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; whoever touches the mount shall surely die:

Let the people know the places all around that they must not pass. Tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up on the mountain or touch any place around it. Whoever touches the mountain will be put to death.

13 N ot a hand shall touch it, but that he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live. When the jubilee sounds long, they shall come up to the mount.

No hand will touch him. But he will be killed with stones or arrows. If he be animal or man, he will not live.’ When a long sound from a horn is heard, they may come up to the mountain.”

14 A nd Moses went down from the mount unto the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He set the people apart to be holy, and they washed their clothes.

15 A nd he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day; come not at your women.

He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman.”

16 ¶ And it came to pass on the third day when the morning came, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the shofar exceeding loud, so that all the people that were in the camp trembled.

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A cloud covered the mountain, and a very loud horn sounded. All the people among the tents shook with fear.

17 A nd Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the lower part of the mount.

Then Moses brought the people from among the tents to meet God. They stood at the base of the mountain.

18 A nd all Mount Sinai smoked because the LORD had descended upon it in fire, and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord came down upon it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a stove. And the whole mountain shook.

19 A nd the voice of the shofar sounded long and waxed louder and louder; Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

The sound of the horn became louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.

20 A nd 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.

Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up.

21 A nd the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people lest they break through the bounds to gaze upon the LORD, and many of them perish.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and tell the people not to break through to look at the Lord. For then many of them would be destroyed.

22 A nd also let the priests who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves lest the LORD break forth upon them.

Have the religious leaders who come near to the Lord set themselves apart to be holy. Or the Lord will go against them.”

23 A nd Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for thou hast charged us, saying, Set bounds about the mount and sanctify it.

Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. For You told us, ‘Set places around the mountain that must not be passed, and set it apart as holy.’”

24 A nd 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 the bounds to come up unto the LORD lest he break forth upon them.

Then the Lord said to him, “Go down, and then come up with Aaron. But do not let the religious leaders and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will go against them.”

25 S o Moses went down unto the people and spoke unto them.

So Moses went down to the people and told them.