1On the first day of the third month after the Israelites had left Egypt, they came to the wilderness (desert) of Sinai. 2For they had left Rephidim, and had arrived and camped before the mountain there. 3And Moses went up the mountain to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, and said, “This is what you shall say to the descendants of Jacob, and to the people of Israel: 4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. 5Now, if you will indeed obey Me, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me among all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6And you shall be for Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the Israelites.’” 7And Moses came down and called for the elders of the people, and laid out before them all the words which the LORD commanded him. 8And all the people responded together, and said, “All that the LORD has said, we will do.” And Moses returned that response of the people to the LORD.

9And the LORD said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you, and put their trust in you forever.” And Moses told the LORD how the people had responded. 10And the LORD said, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothes, 11And be ready on the third day; for on that third day, the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai, in view of all the people. 12And you shall set limits for the people around the mount by saying, ‘Take heed that you do not go up onto the mount, or touch even the foot of it. Whoever touches the mount shall surely be put to death. 13They who cross that boundary must not be touched by a hand, but stoned, or shot with arrows - whether it be man or beast; it shall not live. Only when the trumpet sounds a long blast may they approach the mount.’” 14And Moses went down from the mount to the people, and sanctified them; and they washed their clothes. 15And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day: and abstain from relations with your wives.”

16And on the morning of the third day, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud covered the mount, and an exceedingly loud voice of the trumpet; so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the foot of the mount. 18And Mount Sinai was altogether shrouded in a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked violently. 19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and grew louder and louder, Moses spoke; and God answered him by a voice. 20And the LORD came down upon the top of Mount Sinai; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 21And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, so that they do not break through to gaze upon the LORD, and result in many deaths. 22And even the priests who approach the LORD must sanctify themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” 23And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; because You, Yourself, warned us by saying, ‘Set limits around the mount, and sanctify it (set it apart as holy).’” 24And the LORD replied, “Get down there! And you shall bring Aaron up with you; but do not let the priests or the people break through to come up to Me, or I will break out against them.” 25So Moses went down to again warn the people.