Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

(v) ⁷ Moshe came, summoned the leaders of the people and presented them with all these words which Adonai had ordered him to say. ⁸ All the people answered as one, “Everything Adonai has said, we will do.” Moshe reported the words of the people to Adonai. ⁹ Adonai said to Moshe, “See, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will be able to hear when I speak with you and also to trust in you forever.” Moshe had told Adonai what the people had said; ¹⁰ so Adonai said to Moshe, “Go to the people; today and tomorrow separate them for me by having them wash their clothing; ¹¹ and prepare for the third day. For on the third day, Adonai will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people. ¹² You are to set limits for the people all around; and say, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or even touch its base; whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. ¹³ No hand is to touch him; for he must be stoned or shot by arrows; neither animal nor human will be allowed to live.’ When the shofar sounds, they may go up on the mountain.”

(S: vi) ¹⁴ Moshe went down from the mountain to the people and separated the people for God, and they washed their clothing. ¹⁵ He said to the people, “Prepare for the third day; don’t approach a woman.”

¹⁶ On the morning of the third day, there was thunder, lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain. Then a shofar blast sounded so loudly that all the people in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ Moshe brought the people out of the camp to meet God; they stood near the base of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai was enveloped in smoke, because Adonai descended onto it in fire — its smoke went up like the smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. ¹⁹ As the sound of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moshe spoke; and God answered him with a voice.

(A: vi, S: vii) ²⁰ Adonai came down onto Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; then Adonai called Moshe to the top of the mountain; and Moshe went up. ²¹ Adonai said to Moshe, “Go down and warn the people not to force their way through to Adonai to see him; if they do, many of them will perish. ²² Even the cohanim, who are allowed to approach Adonai, must keep themselves holy; otherwise, Adonai may break out against them.” ²³ Moshe said to Adonai, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, because you ordered us to set limits around the mountain and separate it.” ²⁴ But Adonai answered him, “Go, get down! Then come back up, you and Aharon with you. But don’t let the cohanim and the people force their way through to come up to Adonai, or he will break out against them.”

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

2 Therefore, we must pay much more careful heed to the things we have heard, so that we will not drift away. ² For if the word God spoke through angels became binding, so that every violation and act of disobedience received its just deserts in full measure, ³ then how will we escape if we ignore such a great deliverance? This deliverance, which was first declared by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him; ⁴ while God also bore witness to it with various signs, wonders and miracles, and with gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh which he distributed as he chose.