Exodus 19

1 In the third month after the children of Israel went out of the land of Egypt, on this day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and there Israel camped, facing the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to the mountain of God. And God called to him from the mountain: “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 You yourselves have seen everything I did to the Egyptians — how I took you up as if on eagles’ wings and brought you close to myself. 5 And now, if you will really listen to my voice and keep my covenant, you will be to me a people of my own out of all the nations — for the whole earth is mine — [a] 6 and you will be to me a royal priesthood and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the children of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that God had commanded him. 8 And all the people answered with one mind and said, “Everything God has said, we will do, and we will listen.” And Moses carried the people’s words up to God. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Look — I am coming to you in a pillar of cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking with you, and believe you forever.” And Moses told the Lord the words of the people.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people. Make them holy today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothes, 11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in front of all the people. 12 And you are to set a boundary for the people all around, saying: Watch yourselves — do not go up onto the mountain or touch any part of it. Everyone who touches the mountain will surely die. 13 No hand is to touch it: he will be stoned with stones or shot through with an arrow; animal or man, it will not live. Only when the voices and the trumpets and the cloud have gone from the mountain may they come up onto the mountain.” 14 And Moses went down from the mountain to the people and made them holy, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for three days. Do not go near a woman.”

16 And on the third day, toward daybreak, there were voices and lightning and a dark cloud on Mount Sinai, and the voice of the trumpet sounded loud — and all the people in the camp shook with fear. 17 And Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. [b] 18 And Mount Sinai was all in smoke, because God had come down on it in fire; and the smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people were beside themselves with amazement. 19 And the voices of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice. 20 And the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And God spoke to Moses: “Go down and warn the people, or they will press close to God to stare, and a multitude of them will fall. 22 And let the priests who come near the Lord God make themselves holy, or the Lord may turn away from them.” [c] 23 And Moses said to God, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai — you yourself warned us, saying: Set a boundary around the mountain and make it holy.” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go, get down — and come up again, you and Aaron with you. But the priests and the people are not to force their way up to God, or the Lord will destroy some of them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.