Exodus 19

19 ¹ In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on that same day, they came to the Sinai wilderness. ² They left Rephidim, reached the wilderness of Sinai, and camped there; Israel camped facing the mountain.

³ Moses went up to our Father, and our Father called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Say this to the house of Jacob, tell the Israelites:' ⁴ You have seen what I did to Egypt, how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now, if you truly obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession out of all peoples—for the whole earth is mine. ^a a v5 Our Father calls his people his "treasured possession" — language of deep affection, the way a father cherishes a beloved child. ⁶ You will be my kingdom of priests, a holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the Israelites.

⁷ Moses came, called the people's elders, and set before them all the words our Father had commanded him. ⁸ All the people answered together, 'We will do everything our Father has said.' Moses brought their words back to our Father.

⁹ Our Father told Moses, "I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so the people hear when I speak with you, and trust you forever." Then Moses reported the people's words to our Father. ¹⁰ Our Father said to Moses, "Go to the people, dedicate them today and tomorrow; have them wash their clothes, ¹¹ Be ready by the third day, for on it I will come down on Mount Sinai before all the people's eyes." ¹² "Mark off a boundary for the people all around, saying, 'Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will certainly be put to death.'" ¹³ No hand may touch him—he must be stoned or shot with an arrow. Whether animal or human, he must die. When the ram's horn sounds long, they may go up the mountain.

¹⁴ Moses came down from the mountain to the people, consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. ¹⁵ And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; have no sexual relations."

¹⁶ On the third morning, thunder and lightning came, a thick cloud covered the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast made all the camp's people tremble. ¹⁷ Moses led the people out of the camp to meet our Father, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai was all smoke, because our Father descended on it in fire. Smoke rose like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. ¹⁹ As the trumpet sound grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and our Father answered him in thunder. ²⁰ Our Father came down on Mount Sinai, to the mountaintop, and our Father called Moses up to the mountaintop; Moses went up.

²¹ And our Father said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to look at me, or many will die." ²² Priests who come near me must also dedicate themselves, or I may break out against them.

²³ Moses said to our Father, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, 'Set limits around the mountain and dedicate it.'"

²⁴ And our Father said to him, "Go down, then come up with Aaron. Don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to me, or I will break out against them."

²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.