Moses on Sinai

19 (A)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, [a]on that very day they came into the wilderness of (B)Sinai. When they set out from (C)Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of (D)the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and (E)the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: (F)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on (G)eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, (H)if you will indeed obey My voice and (I)keep My covenant, then you shall be (J)My [b]own possession among all the peoples, for (K)all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me (L)a kingdom of priests and (M)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

(N)So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. Then (O)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in (P)a thick cloud, so that the (Q)people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and (R)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them (S)wash their garments; 11 and have them ready for the third day, for on (T)the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘[c]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; (U)whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but (V)he shall certainly be stoned or [d]shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to (W)the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He also said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

16 (X)So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [e]thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the [f]foot of the mountain.

The Lord Visits Sinai

18 (Y)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it (Z)in fire; and its smoke ascended like (AA)the smoke of a furnace, and (AB)the entire mountain [g]quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (AC)God answered him with [h]thunder. 20 Then (AD)the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, [i]warn the people, so that (AE)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them [j]perish. 22 Also have the (AF)priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [k]warned us, saying, ‘(AG)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “[l]Go down and come up again, (AH)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the (AI)priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:1 Lit on this day
  2. Exodus 19:5 Or special treasure
  3. Exodus 19:12 Lit Take heed to yourselves
  4. Exodus 19:13 I.e., with arrows
  5. Exodus 19:16 Lit sounds
  6. Exodus 19:17 Lit lower part
  7. Exodus 19:18 Or trembled
  8. Exodus 19:19 Or a voice; lit a sound
  9. Exodus 19:21 Lit testify to
  10. Exodus 19:21 Lit fall
  11. Exodus 19:23 Lit testified to
  12. Exodus 19:24 Lit Go, descend

以色列人在西奈山紮營

19 以色列人從埃及地出來以後,滿了三個月的那一天,就來到西奈的曠野。 他們從利非訂起行,來到西奈的曠野,就在曠野安營;以色列人在那座山前安了營。

 神所應許的約

摩西上到 神那裡去,耶和華從山上呼喚他,說:“你要這樣告訴雅各家,吩咐以色列人說: ‘我向埃及人所行的,你們都看見了;也看見了我怎樣像鷹一樣把你們背在翅膀上,帶領你們到我這裡來。 現在你們若是實在聽我的話,遵守我的約,你們就必在萬民中作屬我的產業,因為全地都是我的。 你們要歸我作君尊的祭司和聖潔的國民。’這些話你都要對以色列人說。”

摩西去把人民的長老召了來,把耶和華吩咐他的這一切話都擺在他們面前。 人民都一致地回答,說:“凡是耶和華吩咐的,我們都要遵行。”摩西就去把人民的話回覆耶和華。

立約前的準備

耶和華對摩西說:“看哪,我要在密雲中降臨到你那裡,為要使人民在我與你說話的時候可以聽見,也可以永遠信你。”於是,摩西把人民的話告訴了耶和華。 10 耶和華對摩西說:“你到人民那裡去,要他們今天明天分別為聖,又要他們洗淨自己的衣服; 11 第三天,他們要準備好了,因為第三天耶和華要在全體人民眼前降臨在西奈山。 12 你要在山的周圍給人民定界限,說:‘你們要謹慎,不可上山來,也不可觸摸山腳;凡是觸摸著那山的,必要把他處死。 13 不可用手觸摸他,必須用石頭把他打死,或用箭射透;無論是牲畜,是人,都不得生存。’當號角聲拖長的時候,你們才可以上到山上來。” 14 摩西從山上下來到人民那裡去,使人民分別為聖,他們就把自己的衣服洗淨了。 15 他對人民說:“第三天,你們要預備好了;不可親近女人。”

 神在西奈山顯現

16 到了第三天早晨的時候,山上有雷聲、閃電和密雲,並且角聲非常強大,以致所有在營中的人民都顫抖。 17 摩西率領人民出營去迎接 神,他們都站在山下。 18 西奈全山冒煙,因為耶和華在火中降臨到山上;山的煙向上升,好像火窯的煙一樣。全山猛烈震動。 19 角聲越來越大,大到極點的時候,摩西就說話, 神用雷聲回答摩西。 20 耶和華降臨在西奈山上,就是降臨到山頂上;耶和華呼召摩西上山頂,他就上去了。 21 耶和華對摩西說:“你下去警告人民,不可闖過來,到我這裡觀看,免得他們中間有很多人滅亡。 22 又叫那些親近耶和華的祭司分別為聖,恐怕耶和華忽然擊殺他們。” 23 摩西對耶和華說:“人民不能上西奈山,因為你曾經警告我們,說:‘要給山定界限,也要把山分別為聖。’” 24 耶和華對他說:“下去吧,你要和亞倫一起再上來,只是祭司和人民都不可闖過來,上到我這裡,恐怕我忽然擊殺他們。” 25 於是,摩西下到人民那裡告訴他們。

19 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

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

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

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.

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

And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.

10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12 And 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:

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

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

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

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

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

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

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

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

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

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

24 And the Lord said unto him, Away, 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 the Lord, lest he break forth upon them.

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

Israel at Mount Sinai

19 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, (A)they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from (B)Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before (C)the mountain.

And (D)Moses went up to God, and the Lord (E)called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: (F)‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how (G)I [a]bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now (H)therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and (I)keep My covenant, then (J)you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is (K)Mine. And you shall be to Me a (L)kingdom of priests and a (M)holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

So Moses came and called for the (N)elders of the people, and [b]laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. Then (O)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you (P)in the thick cloud, (Q)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 (R)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. (S)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; (T)do not come near your wives.”

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were (U)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 (V)trembled. 17 And (W)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now (X)Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon (Y)it in fire. (Z)Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and [c]the (AA)whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, (AB)Moses spoke, and (AC)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 (AD)to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the (AE)priests who come near the Lord (AF)consecrate themselves, lest the Lord (AG)break out against them.”

23 But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, (AH)‘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.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:4 sustained
  2. Exodus 19:7 set
  3. Exodus 19:18 LXX all the people