The Bible

Exodus Chapter 19

¹In the third month after the children of Israel had left the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. ²When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped near the mountain. ³Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, "Tell the house of Jacob, and the children of Israel this: ⁴'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. ⁵Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you'll be my special treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; ⁶and you'll be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.' These are the words for you to tell the children of Israel."

⁷Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him. ⁸All the people answered together, and said, "All that Yahweh has said we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh. ⁹Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh. ¹⁰Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, ¹¹and be ready for the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. ¹²Set bounds to the people all around, saying, 'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will be surely put to death. ¹³Let no hand touch him, but he must surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he may not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they may approach the mountain."

¹⁴Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Don't have sexual relations with a woman."

¹⁶On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. ¹⁷Moses led the people from the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. ¹⁸All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. ¹⁹When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. ²⁰Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

²¹Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish. ²²Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break out on them."

²³Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"

²⁴Yahweh said to him, "Go down! Bring Aaron up with you, but don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, in case he breaks out against them."

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