Exodus 19

¹ On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

² After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai and camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

³ Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and tell the people of Israel:

⁴ 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

⁵ Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

⁷ So Moses went back, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak.

⁸ The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

⁹ The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.

¹⁰ And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and have them consecrate themselves today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes

¹¹ and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

¹² Mark off boundaries around the mountain for the people and tell them, 'Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.

¹³ They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to touch them. No person or animal that does this may live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain."

¹⁴ After Moses had come down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

¹⁵ Then he said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Do not have sexual relations."

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

¹⁷ Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

¹⁸ Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

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

²⁰ The LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses up to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up,

²¹ and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people, so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish.

²² Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them."

²³ Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, 'Mark off boundaries around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'"

²⁴ The LORD replied, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way 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.