¹In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of 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 encamped in the wilderness ; and there Israel encamped before the mountain .

³Moses went up to God , and the LORD called to him out of the mountain , saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob , and tell the children of Israel :

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 shall be my own possession from amongst 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 which you shall speak to the children of Israel .”

⁷Moses came and called for the elders of the people , and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him .

⁸All the people answered together , and said , “All that the LORD has spoken we will do .”

Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD .

⁹The LORD 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 the LORD .

¹⁰The LORD 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 the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai .

¹²You shall set 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 shall be surely put to death .

¹³No hand shall touch him , but he shall surely be stoned or shot through ; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live .’ When the trumpet sounds long , they shall come up to 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 out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain .

¹⁸All of Mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD 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 .

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

²¹The LORD said to Moses , “Go down , warn the people , lest they break through to the LORD to gaze , and many of them perish .

²²Let the priests also , who come near to the LORD , sanctify themselves , lest the LORD break out on them .”

²³Moses said to the LORD , “The people can ’t come up to Mount Sinai , for you warned us , saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain , and sanctify it .’”

²⁴The LORD said to him , “Go down ! You shall bring Aaron up with you , but don’t 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 .