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 of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in this day they have come 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 they journey from Rephidim, and enter the wilderness of Sinai, and encamp in the wilderness; and Israel encampeth there 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 hath gone up unto God, and Jehovah calleth unto him out of the mount, saying, `Thus dost thou say to the house of Jacob, and declare to the sons 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 -- ye have seen that which I have done to the Egyptians, and I bear you on eagles' wings, and bring you in 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.

`And now, if ye really hearken to My voice, then ye have kept My covenant, and been to Me a peculiar treasure more than all the peoples, for all the earth 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 -- ye are to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation: these the words which thou dost speak unto the sons 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 cometh, and calleth for the elders of the people, and setteth before them all these words which Jehovah hath 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 answer together and say, `All that Jehovah hath spoken we do;' and Moses returneth 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 saith unto Moses, `Lo, I am coming unto thee in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people hear in My speaking with thee, and also believe in thee to the age;' and Moses declareth 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 saith unto Moses, `Go unto the people; and thou hast sanctified them to-day and to-morrow, and they have washed 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 have been prepared for the third day; for on the third day doth Jehovah come down before the eyes of all the people, on 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 hast made a border the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, going up into the mount, or coming against its extremity; whoever is coming against the mount is certainly 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.”

a hand cometh not against him, for he is certainly stoned or shot through, whether beast or man it liveth not; in the drawing out of the jubilee cornet they go up into 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 cometh down from the mount unto the people, and sanctifieth the people, and they wash their garments;

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

and he saith unto the people, `Be ye prepared for the third day, come not nigh unto 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 cometh to pass, on the third day, while it is morning, that there are voices, and lightnings, and a heavy cloud, on the mount, and the sound of a trumpet very strong; and all the people who in the camp do tremble.

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

And Moses bringeth out the people to meet God from the camp, and they station themselves at the lower 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 wholly a smoke from the presence of Jehovah, who hath come down on it in fire, and its smoke goeth up as smoke of the furnace, and the whole mount trembleth exceedingly;

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

and the sound of the trumpet is going on, and very strong; Moses speaketh, and God doth answer 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.

And Jehovah cometh down on mount Sinai, unto the top of the mount, and Jehovah calleth for Moses unto the top of the mount, and Moses goeth 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 saith unto Moses, `Go down, protest to the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to see, and many of them have fallen;

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 the priests who are coming nigh unto Jehovah do sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth on 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 saith unto Jehovah, `The people unable to come up unto mount Sinai, for Thou -- Thou hast protested to us, saying, Make a border the mount, then thou hast sanctified 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 saith unto him, `Go, descend, then thou hast come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; and the priests and the people do not 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.

And Moses goeth down unto the people, and saith unto them: --