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

In the third month after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, the same day, they came into the Wilderness of Sinai.

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

When they had departed from Rephidim and had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, they encamped there before the mountain.

3 A nd 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:

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him out of the mountain, Say this to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites:

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

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

5 N ow 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.

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.

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

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.

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

So Moses called for the elders of the people and told them all these words which the Lord commanded him.

8 A nd 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.

And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

9 T he 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.

And 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 believe you and remain steadfast forever. Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

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

And the Lord said to Moses, Go and sanctify the people today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes

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

And be ready by the third day, for the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

12 L et 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.

And you shall set bounds for the people round about, saying, Take heed that you go not up into the mountain or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.

13 N o 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.”

No hand shall touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.

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

So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified them, and they washed their clothes.

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

And he said to the people, Be ready by the day after tomorrow; do not go near a woman.

16 O n 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.

The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

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

Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18 M ount 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.

Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

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

As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice.

20 T hen 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.

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

21 T hen 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.

The Lord said to Moses, Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to gaze and many of them perish.

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

And also let the priests, who come near to the Lord, sanctify (set apart) themselves, lest the Lord break forth against them.

23 M oses 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.’”

And Moses said to the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You Yourself charged us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain and sanctify it.

24 T hen 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.”

Then the Lord said to him, Go, get down and you shall come up, you and Aaron with you; but let not the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break forth against them.

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

So Moses went down to the people and told them.