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¹ In the third month after the children of Yisra'el had gone forth out of the land of Mitzrayim, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. ² When they had departed from Refidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Yisra'el encamped before the mountain. ³ Moshe went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Ya`akov, and tell the children of Yisra'el: ⁴ 'You have seen what I did to the Mitzrim, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the eretz is mine;⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of Kohanim, and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Yisra'el." ⁷ Moshe came and called for the Zakenim of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. ⁸ All the people answered together, and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." Moshe reported the words of the people to the LORD.

⁹ The LORD said to Moshe, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moshe told the words of the people to the LORD. ¹⁰ The LORD said to Moshe, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, ¹¹ and be ready against the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. ¹² You shall set bounds to the people round about, saying, 'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. ¹³ No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.' When the shofar sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain." ¹⁴ Moshe went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵ He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Don't have sexual relations with a woman."

¹⁶ It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud shofar; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ Moshe led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because the LORD descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. ¹⁹ When the sound of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moshe spoke, and God answered him by a voice. ²⁰ The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The LORD called Moshe to the top of the mountain, and Moshe went up. ²¹ The LORD said to Moshe, "Go down, charge the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. ²² Let the Kohanim also, who come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth on them." ²³ Moshe said to the LORD, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you charged us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'" ²⁴ The LORD said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aharon up with you, but don't let the Kohanim and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break forth on them." ²⁵ So Moshe went down to the people, and told them.