Exodus 19

Israel at Mount Sinai

1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they acame into the wilderness of Sinai. 2They set out from bRephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before cthe mountain, 3while dMoses went up to God. eThe Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 f'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how gI bore you on eagleswings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be hmy treasured possession among all peoples, for iall the earth is mine; 6and you shall be to me a jkingdom of priests and ka 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. 8 lAll 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 min a thick cloud, that nthe people may hear when I speak with you, and may also obelieve you forever.”

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,
10the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and pconsecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them qwash their garments 11and be ready for the third day. For on the third day rthe 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. sWhoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;
That is,  shot with an arrow
whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When uthe trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”
14So Moses vwent down from the mountain to the people and wconsecrated the people; xand they washed their garments. 15And he said to the people, “Be ready for the ythird day; zdo not go near a woman.”

16On the morning of the aathird day there were abthunders and lightnings and aca thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud adtrumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp aetrembled. 17Then afMoses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18Now agMount 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 ahthe whole mountain trembled greatly. 19And as the aisound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and ajGod 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 akto look and many of them perish. 22Also let the priests who come near to the Lord alconsecrate themselves, lest the Lord ambreak out against them.” 23And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, an‘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 aobreak through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25So Moses went down to the people and told them.

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