16 (A)So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [a]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 [b]foot of the mountain.

The Lord Visits Sinai

18 (B)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it (C)in fire; and its smoke ascended like (D)the smoke of a furnace, and (E)the entire mountain [c]quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (F)God answered him with [d]thunder. 20 Then (G)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, [e]warn the people, so that (H)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them [f]perish. 22 Also have the (I)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 [g]warned us, saying, ‘(J)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “[h]Go down and come up again, (K)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the (L)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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:16 Lit sounds
  2. Exodus 19:17 Lit lower part
  3. Exodus 19:18 Or trembled
  4. Exodus 19:19 Or a voice; lit a sound
  5. Exodus 19:21 Lit testify to
  6. Exodus 19:21 Lit fall
  7. Exodus 19:23 Lit testified to
  8. Exodus 19:24 Lit Go, descend

16 When morning dawned on the third day, there was thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast of a horn. All the people in the camp shook with fear. 17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord had come down on it with lightning. The smoke went up like the smoke of a hot furnace, while the whole mountain shook violently. 19 The blasts of the horn grew louder and louder. Moses would speak, and God would answer him with thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to try to see the Lord, or many of them will fall dead. 22 Even the priests who come near to the Lord must keep themselves holy, or the Lord will break loose against them.”

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people aren’t allowed to come up on Mount Sinai because you warned us and said, ‘Set up a fence around the mountain to keep it holy.’”

24 The Lord said to him, “Go down, and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not break through and come up to the Lord. Otherwise, the Lord will break loose against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Read full chapter