Israel at Mount Sinai 1 DBY In the third month after the departure of the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai: BSB BSB: In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
2 DBY they departed from Rephidim, and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in the wilderness; and Israel encamped there before the mountain. BSB BSB: After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
3 DBY And Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: BSB BSB: Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel:
4 DBY Ye have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and how I have borne you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. BSB BSB: ‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
5 DBY And now, if ye will hearken to my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then shall ye be my own possession out of all the peoples — for all the earth is mine — BSB BSB: Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
6 DBY and ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak to the children of Israel. BSB BSB: And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 DBY And Moses came and called the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which Jehovah had commanded him. BSB BSB: So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.
8 DBY And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah has spoken will we do! And Moses brought the words of the people back to Jehovah. BSB BSB: And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.
9 DBY And Jehovah said to Moses, Lo, I will come to thee in the cloud's thick darkness, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee also for ever. And Moses told the words of the people to Jehovah. BSB BSB: The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said.
10 DBY And Jehovah said to Moses, Go to the people, and hallow them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their clothes; BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
11 DBY and let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day Jehovah will come down before the eyes of all the people on mount Sinai. BSB BSB: and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 DBY And set bounds round about the people, saying, Take heed to yourselves, not to go up unto the mountain nor touch the border of it: whatever toucheth the mountain shall certainly be put to death: BSB BSB: And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13 DBY not a hand shall touch it, but it shall certainly be stoned, or shot through; whether it be a beast or a man, it shall not live. When the long drawn note of the trumpet soundeth, they shall come up to the mountain. BSB BSB: No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”
14 DBY And Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and hallowed the people; and they washed their clothes. BSB BSB: When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
15 DBY And he said to the people, Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives. BSB BSB: “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
The LORD Visits Sinai 16 DBY And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a heavy cloud on the mountain, and the sound of the trumpet exceeding loud; and the whole people that was in the camp trembled. BSB BSB: On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
17 DBY And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the foot of the mountain. BSB BSB: Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 DBY And the whole of mount Sinai smoked, because Jehovah descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace; and the whole mountain shook greatly. BSB BSB: Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
19 DBY And the sound of the trumpet increased and became exceeding loud; Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. BSB BSB: And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.
20 DBY And Jehovah came down on mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain; and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. BSB BSB: The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,
21 DBY And Jehovah said to Moses, Go down, testify to the people that they break not through to Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish. BSB BSB: and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish.
22 DBY And the priests also, who come near to Jehovah, shall hallow themselves, lest Jehovah break forth on them. BSB BSB: Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
23 DBY And Moses said to Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou hast testified to us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain, and hallow it. BSB BSB: But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”
24 DBY And Jehovah said to him, Go, descend, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; but the priests and the people shall not break through to go up to Jehovah, lest he break forth on them. BSB BSB: And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.”
25 DBY So Moses went down to the people, and told them. BSB BSB: So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.