And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you (A)in the thick cloud, (B)that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”

So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and (C)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. (D)Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”

14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; (E)do not come near your wives.”

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were (F)thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp (G)trembled. 17 And (H)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now (I)Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon (J)it in fire. (K)Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and [a]the (L)whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, (M)Moses spoke, and (N)God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon 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 the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through (O)to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the (P)priests who come near the Lord (Q)consecrate themselves, lest the Lord (R)break out against them.”

23 But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, (S)‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

24 Then the Lord said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:18 LXX all the people

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(A) so that the people will hear me speaking(B) with you and will always put their trust(C) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(D) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(E) 11 and be ready by the third day,(F) because on that day the Lord will come down(G) on Mount Sinai(H) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(I) 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(J) 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(K) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(L)

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

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

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(Z) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(AA) the Lord and many of them perish.(AB) 22 Even the priests, who approach(AC) the Lord, must consecrate(AD) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(AE)

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(AF) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(AG) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(AH) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(AI)

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

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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