Moses on Sinai

19 ^(A)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, ^[a]on that very day they came into the wilderness of ^(B)Sinai. ² When they set out from ^(C)Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of ^(D)the mountain. ³ And Moses went up to God, and ^(E)the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ⁴ ‘^(F)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on ^(G)eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now then, ^(H)if you will indeed obey My voice and ^(I)keep My covenant, then you shall be ^(J)My ^[b]own possession among all the peoples, for ^(K)all the earth is Mine; ⁶ and you shall be to Me ^(L)a kingdom of priests and ^(M)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

^7 (N)So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. ⁸ Then ^(O)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in ^(P)a thick cloud, so that the ^(Q)people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

¹⁰ The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and ^(R)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them ^(S)wash their garments; ¹¹ and have them ready for the third day, for on ^(T)the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. ¹² But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘^[c]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; ^(U)whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death. ¹³ No hand shall touch him, but ^(V)he shall certainly be stoned or ^[d]shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to ^(W)the mountain.” ¹⁴ So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ He also said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

^16 (X)So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were ^[e]thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the ^[f]foot of the mountain.

The Lord Visits Sinai

^18 (Y)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it ^(Z)in fire; and its smoke ascended like ^(AA)the smoke of a furnace, and ^(AB)the entire mountain ^[g]quaked violently. ¹⁹ When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and ^(AC)God answered him with ^[h]thunder. ²⁰ Then ^(AD)the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. ²¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, ^[i]warn the people, so that ^(AE)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them ^[j]perish. ²² Also have the ^(AF)priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” ²³ And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You ^[k]warned us, saying, ‘^(AG)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” ²⁴ Then the Lord said to him, “^[l]Go down and come up again, ^(AH)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the ^(AI)priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out against them.” ²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.