3-6 As Moses went up to meet God, God called down to him from the mountain: “Speak to the House of Jacob, tell the People of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to me. If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you’ll be my special treasure. The whole Earth is mine to choose from, but you’re special: a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’

“This is what I want you to tell the People of Israel.”

Moses came back and called the elders of Israel together and set before them all these words which God had commanded him.

The people were unanimous in their response: “Everything God says, we will do.” Moses took the people’s answer back to God.

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Then Moses went up to God,(A) and the Lord called(B) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(C) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(D) and brought you to myself.(E) Now if you obey me fully(F) and keep my covenant,(G) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(H) Although the whole earth(I) is mine, you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests(J) and a holy nation.’(K) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went back and summoned the elders(L) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(M) The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(N) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. You

16 On the third day at daybreak, there were loud claps of thunder, flashes of lightning, a thick cloud covering the mountain, and an ear-piercing trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp shuddered in fear.

17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at attention at the base of the mountain.

18-20 Mount Sinai was all smoke because God had come down on it as fire. Smoke poured from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shuddered and heaved. The trumpet blasts grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered in thunder. God descended to the peak of Mount Sinai. God called Moses up to the peak and Moses climbed up.

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16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(A) and lightning, with a thick cloud(B) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(C) Everyone in the camp trembled.(D) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(E) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(F) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(G) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(H) and the whole mountain[a] trembled(I) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(J) of God answered(K) him.[b]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(L) 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