10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(A) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(B) 11 and be ready by the third day,(C) because on that day the Lord will come down(D) on Mount Sinai(E) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(F) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(G) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(H) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(I)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(J) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(K) from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(L) and lightning, with a thick cloud(M) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(N) Everyone in the camp trembled.(O) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(P) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(Q) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(R) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(S) and the whole mountain[a] trembled(T) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(U) of God answered(V) him.[b]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(W) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
  2. Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder

The Ten Commandments(A)

20 And God spoke(B) all these words:(C)

“I am the Lord your God,(D) who brought you out(E) of Egypt,(F) out of the land of slavery.(G)

“You shall have no other gods before[a] me.(H)

“You shall not make for yourself an image(I) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship(J) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(K) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(L) to the third and fourth generation(M) of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand(N) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 20:3 Or besides

Joshua Installed as Leader

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,(A) the Lord said to Joshua(B) son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River(C) into the land(D) I am about to give to them(E)—to the Israelites.

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“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey(A) all the law(B) my servant Moses(C) gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,(D) that you may be successful wherever you go.(E)

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