Exodus 19
On the Third Day He Came Down
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Covenant Promise
19:1In the third month after the sons of Israel left the land of Egypt, on that day they came to the wilderness of Sinai.
19:2They journeyed from Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai. Israel camped there opposite the mountain.
19:3Moses went up to God’s mountain, and God called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and announce to the sons of Israel:
19:4“You yourselves have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, and I carried you as on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
19:5“Now, if you diligently obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured people among all nations, for all the earth is Mine.
19:6“You shall be to Me a royal priesthood and a holy nation. These are the words you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
19:7Moses came, called the people’s elders, and set before them all these words that God had instructed him.
19:8All the people answered with one accord, “We will do everything God has said, and we will obey.” Moses brought the people’s words to God.
19:9The 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 trust you forever.” Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord.
Preparation and Consecration
19:10The Lord said to Moses, “Go down, solemnly warn the people, and purify them today and tomorrow. Let them wash their garments
19:11“and 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.
19:12“Set bounds around the people, saying, ‘Take care not to go up the mountain or touch any part of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely die.
19:13“‘No hand shall touch him, for he shall be stoned with stones or shot with a dart. Whether animal or human, he shall not live. When the sounds, the trumpets, and the cloud leave the mountain, they may go up the mountain.’”
19:14Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their garments.
19:15He said to the people, “Be ready for three days. Do not approach a woman.”
The Lord Descends upon the Mountain
19:16Toward dawn on the third day there were thunder and lightning and a dark cloud over Mount Sinai. The trumpet sounded loudly, and all the people in the camp were terrified.
19:17Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood beneath the mountain.
19:18Mount Sinai was entirely covered with smoke because God had descended on it in fire. The smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people were greatly astonished.
19:19The trumpet’s sounds grew much stronger. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice.
19:20The Lord descended on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
19:21God said to Moses, “Go down and solemnly warn the people, lest they come near God to gaze and a multitude of them fall.
19:22“Let the priests who approach the Lord God consecrate themselves, lest the Lord depart from them.”
19:23Moses said to God, “The people cannot go up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, saying, ‘Set the mountain apart and consecrate it.’”
19:24The Lord said to him, “Go down, then come up with Aaron. But do not let the priests or the people force their way up to God, lest the Lord destroy some of them.”
19:25Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.