Exodus 19

CLV(i) 1 In the third month after the going forth of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day they entered the wilderness of Sinai. 2 When they journeyed from Rephidim and entered the wilderness of Sinai then they encamped in the wilderness. While Israel encamped there in front of the mountain, 3 Moses, he ascended to the One, Elohim. Then Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying: Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell to the sons of Israel, 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians when I bore you on vultures' wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now, if you shall hearken, yea hearken to My voice and observe My covenant then you will become Mine, a special possession, above all the peoples, for Mine is all the earth. 6 As for you, you shall become Mine, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel. 7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people and placed before them all these words which Yahweh had instructed him. 8 Now all the people responded together and said: All that Yahweh speaks we shall do. When Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh, 9 then Yahweh said to Moses: Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud in order that the people shall hear when I speak with you, and moreover, in you shall they believe for the eon. So Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh. 10 Then Yahweh said to Moses: Go to the people, and you will hallow them today and tomorrow; let them rinse their garment. 11 and come to be prepared for the third day; for on the third day Yahweh shall descend on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people. 12 Also you shall set a boundary for the people round about, saying: Guard yourselves concerning ascent into the mountain or touching its outmost part. Everyone touching the mountain shall be put to death, yea death. 13 No hand shall touch him, for he shall be stoned, yea stoned or shot, yea shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live. When the alarm horn draws forth, they may ascend onto the mountain. 14 So Moses descended from the mountain to the people; he hallowed the people, and they rinsed their garments. 15 Then he said to the people: Be prepared for three days; do not come close to a woman. 16 It came to be on the third day, at the coming of the morning, that there came to be sounds and flashes and a heavy cloud on the mount, and the sound of a trumpet, exceedingly steadfast. Hence all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Yet Moses brought the people forth from the camp to meet the One, Elohim. So they stationed themselves at the nether part of the mountain. 18 As for Mount Sinai, all of it smoked in view of the fact that Yahweh descended on it in fire; its smoke ascended as the smoke of a limekiln, and the entire mountain trembled exceedingly. 19 While the sound of the trumpet came to be going, becoming exceedingly steadfast, Moses was speaking, and the One, Elohim was answering with a loud voice. 20 Yahweh descended on Mount Sinai to the summit of the mountain; then Yahweh called Moses to the summit of the mountain, and Moses ascended. 21 Yahweh said to Moses: Descend! Testify to the people lest they demolish the boundaries to Yahweh in order to see, and many of them fall. 22 Moreover, the priests who are coming close to Yahweh, they shall sanctify themselves lest Yahweh breach forth against them. 23 Now Moses said to Yahweh: The people cannot ascend to Mount Sinai because You testified to us, saying: Set a boundary about the mountain, and you will hallow it. 24 Yahweh said to him: Go, descend. Then you will ascend, you and Aaron with you; yet the priests and the people must not demolish the boundaries to ascend to Yahweh, lest He breach forth against them. 25 So Moses descended to the people and spoke to them.