Exodus 24

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Moses himself was told, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, with Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You shall all worship at some distance,	1 He also said to Moses: “Ascend to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders out of Israel, and adore from a distance.
2 but Moses alone is to come close to the LORD; the others shall not come too near, and the people shall not come up at all with Moses."	2 And only Moses will ascend to the Lord, and these shall not approach. Neither shall the people ascend with him.”
3 When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us."	3 Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: “We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.”
4 Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.	4 Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD,	5 And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord.
6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar.	6 And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar.
7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."	7 And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.”
8 Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his."	8 In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.”
9 Moses then went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel,	9 And Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel ascended.
10 and they beheld the God of Israel. Under his feet there appeared to be sapphire tilework, as clear as the sky itself.	10 And they saw the God of Israel. And under his feet was something like a work of sapphire stone, or like the sky, when it is serene.
11 Yet he did not smite these chosen Israelites. After gazing on God, they could still eat and drink.	11 Neither did he lay his hand upon those of the sons of Israel who were at a distance. And they saw God, and they ate and drank.
12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and, while you are there, I will give you the stone tablets on which I have written the commandments intended for their instruction."	12 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Ascend to me on the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you tablets of stone, and the law and the commandments that I have written. So may you teach them.”
13 So Moses set out with Joshua, his aide, and went up to the mountain of God.	13 Moses rose up, with Joshua his minister. And Moses, ascending on the mountain of God,
14 The elders, however, had been told by him, "Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are staying with you. If anyone has a complaint, let him refer the matter to them."	14 said to the elders: “Wait here, until we return to you. You have Aaron and Hur with you. If any question arises, you shall refer it to them.”
15 After Moses had gone up, a cloud covered the mountain.	15 And when Moses had ascended, a cloud covered the mountain.
16 The glory of the LORD settled upon Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days, and on the seventh day he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.	16 And the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai, covering it with a cloud for six days. And on the seventh day, he called to him from the middle of the mist.
17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD was seen as a consuming fire on the mountaintop.	17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a burning fire over the summit of the mountain in the sight of the sons of Israel.
18 But Moses passed into the midst of the cloud as he went up on the mountain; and there he stayed for forty days and forty nights.	18 And Moses, entering into the midst of the cloud, ascended the mountain. And he was there for forty days and forty nights.