Exodus 19

In the third month of the exodus of the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

And they set out from Raphidin and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and Israel encamped there opposite the mountain.

And Moses went up to the mountain of God, and God called him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and declare to the sons of Israel:

'You yourselves have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and how I took you up as on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

And now, if you listen attentively to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be for me a special people out of all the nations, for the whole earth is mine.

And you shall be for me a royal priesthood and a holy nation.' These are the words you shall say to the sons of Israel."

And Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that God had enjoined upon him.

And all the people answered with one accord and said, "All that God has said we will do, and we will listen." And Moses brought up the words of the people to God.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a pillar of cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking to you and may believe you forever." And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Go down and solemnly charge the people, and purify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,

and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai before all the people.

And you shall set the people apart round about, saying, 'Take heed to yourselves not to go up onto the mountain or to touch any part of it; everyone who touches the mountain shall die the death.'

No hand shall touch him, for he shall surely be stoned with stones or shot through with a dart; whether beast or man, he shall not live. When the voices and the trumpets and the cloud depart from the mountain, those may go up on the mountain."

And Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified them, and they washed their garments.

And he said to the people, "Be ready for three days; do not approach a woman."

And it happened on the third day, when it had come toward dawn, that there were voices and lightnings and a dark cloud on Mount Sinai; the sound of the trumpet rang out loudly, and all the people who were in the camp were terrified.

And Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

And Mount Sinai was entirely in smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire; and the smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people were exceedingly astonished.

And the sounds of the trumpet kept going on, growing exceedingly stronger; Moses was speaking, and God answered him with a voice.

And the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

And God said to Moses, saying, "Go down and solemnly charge the people, lest they draw near to God to gaze, and a multitude of them fall.

And let the priests who draw near to the Lord God sanctify themselves, lest the Lord withdraw from them."

And Moses said to God, "The people will not be able to come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself solemnly charged us, saying, 'Set the mountain apart and sanctify it.'"

And the Lord said to him, "Go, go down, and come up, you and Aaron with you; but let the priests and the people not force their way up to God, lest the Lord destroy some of them."

So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.