Exodus 19

¹On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt , on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai .

²They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai , and they encamped in the wilderness . There Israel encamped before the mountain ,

³while Moses went up to God . The Lord called to him out of the mountain , saying , Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob , and tell the people of Israel :

⁴You yourselves 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 , you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples , for all the earth is mine;

⁶and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation . These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel .

⁷So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.

⁸All 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.

⁹And the Lord said to Moses , Behold , I am coming to you in a thick cloud , that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever . When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,

¹⁰the Lord said to Moses , Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow , and let them wash their garments

¹¹and be ready for the third day . For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people .

¹²And you shall set limits for the people all around , saying , Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death .

¹³No hand shall touch him, but he shall 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 .

¹⁴So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people ; and they washed their garments .

¹⁵And he said to the people , Be ready for the third day ; do not go near a woman .

¹⁶On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast , so that all the people in the camp trembled .

¹⁷Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God , and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain .

¹⁸Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire . The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln , and the whole mountain trembled greatly .

¹⁹And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder , Moses spoke , and God answered him in thunder .

²⁰The 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 .

²¹And the Lord said to Moses , Go down and warn the people , lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish .

²²Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.

²³And Moses said to the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai , for you yourself warned us, saying , Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.

²⁴And the Lord said to him, Go down , and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.

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