Exodus 19

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In the third month of the departure of Israel from the land of Egypt, in that day, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai.	1 In the third month after their departure from the land of Egypt, on its first day, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai.
2 Thus, setting out from Raphidim, and going directly to the desert of Sinai, they encamped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents away from the region of the mountain.	2 After the journey from Rephidim to the desert of Sinai, they pitched camp. While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain,
3 Then Moses ascended to God. And the Lord called to him from the mountain, and he said: “This you shall say to the house of Jacob, and announce to the sons of Israel:	3 Moses went up the mountain to God. Then the LORD called to him and said, "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob;
4 ‘You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, in what way I carried you upon the wings of eagles and how I have taken you for myself.	4 tell the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself.
5 If, therefore, you will hear my voice, and you will keep my covenant, you will be to me a particular possession out of all people. For all the earth is mine.	5 Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine.
6 And you will be to me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the sons of Israel.”	6 You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. That is what you must tell the Israelites."
7 Moses went, and calling together those greater by birth among the people, he set forth all the words which the Lord had commanded.	7 So Moses went and summoned the elders of the people. When he set before them all that the LORD had ordered him to tell them,
8 And all the people responded together: “Everything that the Lord has spoken, we shall do.” And when Moses had related the words of the people to the Lord,	8 the people all answered together, "Everything the LORD has said, we will do." Then Moses brought back to the LORD the response of the people.
9 the Lord said to him: “Soon now, I will come to you in the mist of a cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking to you, and so that they may believe you continuously.” Therefore, Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord,	9 The LORD also told him, "I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that when the people hear me speaking with you, they may always have faith in you also." When Moses, then, had reported to the LORD the response of the people,
10 who said to him: “Go to the people, and sanctify them today, and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments.	10 the LORD added, "Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. Make them wash their garments
11 And let them be prepared on the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will descend, in the sight of all the people, over Mount Sinai.	11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.
12 And you will establish limits for the people all around, and you will say to them: ‘Take care not to ascend to the mountain, and that you do not touch its parts. All who touch the mountain, shall die a death.’	12 Set limits for the people all around the mountain, and tell them: Take care not to go up the mountain, or even to touch its base. If anyone touches the mountain, he must be put to death.
13 Hands shall not touch him, but he shall be crushed with stones, or he shall be pierced through with darts. Whether it be a beast or a man, he shall not live. For when the trumpet begins to sound, perhaps they might go up toward the mountain.”	13 No hand shall touch him; he must be stoned to death or killed with arrows. Such a one, man or beast, must not be allowed to live. Only when the ram's horn resounds may they go up to the mountain."
14 And Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and he sanctified them. And when they had washed their garments,	14 Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and had them sanctify themselves and wash their garments.
15 he said to them, “Be prepared on the third day, and do not draw near to your wives.”	15 He warned them, "Be ready for the third day. Have no intercourse with any woman."
16 And now, the third day arrived and the morning dawned. And behold, thunders began to be heard, and also lightning flashed, and a very dense cloud covered the mountain, and the noise of the trumpet resounded vehemently. And the people who were in the camp were fearful.	16 On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
17 And when Moses had led them out to meet God, from the place of the camp, they stood at the base of the mountain.	17 But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain.
18 Then all of Mount Sinai was smoking. For the Lord had descended over it with fire, and smoke ascended from it, as from a furnace. And the entire mountain was terrible.	18 Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke, for the LORD came down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
19 And the sound of the trumpet gradually increased to be louder, and extended to be longer. Moses was speaking, and God was answering him.	19 The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and God answering him with thunder.
20 And the Lord descended over Mount Sinai, to the very top of the mountain, and he called Moses to its summit. And when he had ascended there,	20 When the LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up to him.
21 he said to him: “Descend, and call the people to witness, lest they might be willing to transgress the limits, so as to see the Lord, and a very great multitude of them might perish.	21 Then the LORD told Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through toward the LORD in order to see him; otherwise many of them will be struck down.
22 Likewise, the priests who approach toward the Lord, let them be sanctified, lest he strike them down.”	22 The priests, too, who approach the LORD must sanctify themselves; else he will vent his anger upon them."
23 And Moses said to the Lord: “The people are not able to ascend to Mount Sinai. For you testified, and you commanded, saying: ‘Set limits around the mountain, and sanctify it.’ ”	23 Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot go up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us to set limits around the mountain to make it sacred."
24 And the Lord said to him, “Go, descend. And you shall ascend, and Aaron with you. But let not the priests or the people transgress the limits, nor ascend to the Lord, lest perhaps he may put them to death.”	24 The LORD repeated, "Go down now! Then come up again along with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD; else he will vent his anger upon them."
25 And Moses descended to the people, and he explained everything to them.	25 So Moses went down to the people and told them this.