Exodus 19 (JPS)

1In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.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.

2And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: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:

4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself.‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

5Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine;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.

6and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'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.”

7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.

8And all the people answered together, and said: 'All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.' And Moses reported the words of the people unto the LORD.And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

9And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever.' And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.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.

10And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments,Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes

11and be ready against the third day; for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.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.

12And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying: Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it; whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death;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.

13no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live; when the ram's horn soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.'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.”

14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments.When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

15And he said unto the people: 'Be ready against the third day; come not near a woman.'“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”

16And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.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.

17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

18Now mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.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.

19And when the voice of the horn waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.

20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up,

21And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.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.

22And let the priests also, that come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.'Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”

23And Moses said unto the LORD: 'The people cannot come up to mount Sinai; for thou didst charge us, saying: Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.'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.’”

24And the LORD said unto him: 'Go, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee; but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest He break forth upon them.'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.”

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

Israel at Mount Sinai

The LORD Visits Sinai

You’ve read Exodus 19

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Israel at Mount Sinai

The LORD Visits Sinai

You’ve read Exodus 19

Go deeper