New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. | 1On the third New Moon after the Israelis went out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came to the desert of Sinai. |
2After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. | 2They had set out from Rephidim and arrived at the desert of Sinai where they camped in the desert. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. |
3Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: | 3Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain: "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and declare to the sons of Israel, |
4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. | 4You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. |
5Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. | 5And now if you carefully obey me and keep my covenant, you are to be my special possession out of all the peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me, |
6And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” | 6but you are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to me.' These are the words you are to declare to the Israelis." |
7So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the LORD had commanded him. | 7When Moses came, he summoned the elders of the people and told them everything that the LORD had commanded him. |
8And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the LORD. | 8All the people answered together: "We'll do everything that the LORD has said!" Then Moses reported all the words of the people back to the LORD. |
9Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.” Moses told the LORD what the people had said. | 9The LORD told Moses, "Look, I'm coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may listen when I speak with you and always believe you." Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. |
10Then the LORD told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. | 10The LORD told Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes, |
11Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. | 11and be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. |
12Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. | 12You are to set boundaries for the people all around: 'Be very careful that you don't go up on the mountain or touch the side of it. Anyone who touches the mountain is certainly to be put to death. |
13No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain. ” | 13No hand is to touch that person, but he is certainly to be stoned or shot; whether animal or person, he is not to live.' They are to approach the mountain only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast." |
14So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. | 14When Moses went down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes. |
15He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.” | 15He told the people, "Be ready for the third day; don't go near a woman." |
16On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. | 16When morning came on the third day, there was thunder and lightning, with a heavy cloud over the mountain, and the very loud sound of a ram's horn. All the people in the camp trembled. |
17Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. | 17Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the base of the mountain. |
18All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. | 18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the LORD had come down in fire on it. Smoke went up from it like smoke from a kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. |
19As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. | 19As the sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer with thunder. |
20The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. | 20When the LORD came down on Mount Sinai to the top of the mountain, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. |
21Then the LORD told Moses, “Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the LORD, or they will die. | 21The LORD told Moses, "Go down and warn the people so they don't break through to look at the LORD, and many of them perish. |
22Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves so that the LORD does not break out and destroy them.” | 22Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves. Otherwise, the LORD will attack them." |
23“But LORD,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’” | 23Moses told the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai because you warned us: 'Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.'" |
24But the LORD said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the LORD, or he will break out and destroy them.” | 24The LORD told him, "Go down, and come back up with Aaron, but the priests and the people must not break through to go up to the LORD. Otherwise, he will attack them." |
25So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said. | 25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
|