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 children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they 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.

And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.

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 unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

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

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto 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 ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among 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 ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

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

And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah 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 Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.

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 Jehovah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah.

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 Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments,

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 against the third day; for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

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 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 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 him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

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.

And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments.

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

And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not 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.

And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were 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.

And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

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.

And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

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

And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by 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.

And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; 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.

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah 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 let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon 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 unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, 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.”

And Jehovah said unto him, Go, 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 Jehovah, lest he break forth upon them.

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

So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.