Exodus 19

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.

1Exactly three months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived at the Sinai Desert.

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.

2After they left Rephidim, they came into the Sinai Desert and set up camp in the wilderness in front of the mountain.

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

3Moses went up the mountain to meet with God. The LORD called to him from the mountain and said, 'This is what you should say to the family of Jacob and tell the people of Israel:

4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

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

5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:

5Now, if you will really obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my special treasure among all the nations, even though the whole earth belongs to me.

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.

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

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

7So Moses went back and called for the leaders of the people. He told them everything the LORD had commanded him to say.

8And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.

8All the people answered together, 'We will do everything the LORD has said.' Then Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

9And Jehovah 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 Jehovah.

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

10And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments,

10The LORD said to Moses, 'Go to the people and tell them to prepare themselves today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes.

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

11They must 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.

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:

12Mark a boundary around the mountain for the people. Tell them, "Be careful not to go up the mountain or even touch the edge of it. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death."

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

13No one is to touch that person; they must be stoned or shot with arrows. Whether it is an animal or a human, they must not live. Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up near the mountain.'

14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments.

14After Moses went down the mountain to the people, he prepared them for the ceremony, and they washed their clothes.

15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman.

15He told the people, 'Be ready for the third day. Until then, men should not have sexual relations with their wives.'

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 trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.

16On 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 with fear.

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

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

18And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

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

19And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

19As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice like thunder.

20And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

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

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

21The LORD said to him, 'Go down and warn the people not to force their way through to see the LORD, or many of them will die.

22And let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon them.

22Even the priests who come near the LORD must purify themselves, or the LORD will punish them.'

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

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

24And Jehovah 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 Jehovah, lest he break forth upon them.

24The LORD replied, 'Go down now and then come back up with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will strike them down.'

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

25So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said.