1 In the third month from when the sons of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim and were come to the desert of Sinai and had pitched in the wilderness, and there Israel camped before the mount. 3 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 sons of Israel: 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will give ear to hearken unto my voice and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a special treasure unto me above all peoples; for all the earth is mine. 6 And ye shall be my kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the sons of Israel.
7 Then Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together and said, All that the LORD has spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, 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 today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes 11 and be ready for 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; whoever touches the mount shall surely die: 13 Not a hand shall touch it, but that he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live. When the jubilee sounds 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 women.
16 And it came to pass on the third day when the morning came, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of the shofar {ram’s horn} exceeding loud, so that all the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the lower part of the mount. 18 And all Mount Sinai smoked because the LORD had descended upon it in fire, and its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And the voice of the shofar sounded long and waxed louder and louder; Moses spoke, 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 the bounds to gaze upon the LORD, and many of them perish. 22 And also let the priests who 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 hast charged 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 the bounds to come up unto the LORD lest he break forth upon them. 25 So Moses went down unto the people and spoke unto them.