18 When the
people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain
in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance19 and said
to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak
to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test
you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick
darkness where God was.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in
heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.5 You shall
not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God,
am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate me,6 but showing love to a thousand
generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his
name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.9 Six days
you shall labor and do all your work,10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your
son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any
foreigner residing in your towns.11 For in six days the Lord made the
heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the
seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the
land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything
that belongs to your neighbor.”
On the first day of the third month after the
Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.2 After they
set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped
there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is
what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the
people of Israel:4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and
how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5 Now if you obey me fully and
keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.
Although the whole earth is mine,6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a
holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set
before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.8 The people all responded
together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”
So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that
the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in
you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and
tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes11 and be ready by the third
day, because on that day the Lord will come
down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12 Put limits for the people around
the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain
or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.13 They are to be stoned
or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal
shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may
they approach the mountain.” 14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated
them, and they washed their clothes.15 Then he said to the people,
“Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” 16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning,
with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone
in the camp trembled.17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet
with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Mount Sinai was covered with
smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The
smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[b] trembled violently.19 As the sound of the trumpet
grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.[c] 20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of
the mountain. So Moses went up21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force
their way through to see the Lord and many of
them perish.22 Even
the priests, who approach the Lord, must
consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break
out against them.” 23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself
warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” 24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and
the people must not force their way 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.
