| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then the LORD instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. | 1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance. |
| 2Only Moses is allowed to come near to the LORD. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.” | 2Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.” |
| 3Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the LORD had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.” | 3When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.” |
| 4Then Moses carefully wrote down all the LORD’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. | 4And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. |
| 5Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. | 5Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. |
| 6Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar. | 6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. |
| 7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded. We will obey.” | 7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” |
| 8Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the LORD has made with you in giving you these instructions.” | 8So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” |
| 9Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. | 9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, |
| 10There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. | 10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. |
| 11And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence! | 11But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank. |
| 12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.” | 12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” |
| 13So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God. | 13So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God. |
| 14Moses told the elders, “Stay here and wait for us until we come back. Aaron and Hur are here with you. If anyone has a dispute while I am gone, consult with them.” | 14And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Whoever has a dispute can go to them.” |
| 15Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. | 15When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, |
| 16And the glory of the LORD settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud. | 16and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. |
| 17To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the LORD appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. | 17And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. |
| 18Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. | 18Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. |
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