In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
When they had departed from Rephidim and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness. And there Israel encamped before the mountain.
Moses went up Mount Sinai to God. And Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to me.
Now therefore, if you will listen, yes, listen to my voice and keep my covenant, then you will be my own possession from among all peoples—for all the earth is mine—
and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you are to speak to the children of Israel.”
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and set before them all these words that Yahweh commanded him.
All the people answered together and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud so that the people can hear when I speak with you, and can also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments
and be ready for the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
You must set boundaries for the people all around the mountain, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up onto the mountain or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death, yes, death.
No hand is to touch him, but he is to be stoned, yes, stoned, or shot, yes, shot. Whether animal or human, he is not to live. When the shofar sounds a long blast, they may come up to the mountain.”
So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day; do not have sexual relations with a woman.”
It came to pass on the third day, when it was daybreak, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and the sound of a shofar that was exceedingly loud, and all the people in the camp trembled.
Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
Now Mount Sinai smoked all over, because Yahweh descended on it in fire. And its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
When the sound of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.
Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze and many of them perish.
Let the priests also who come near to Yahweh sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break forth on them.”
Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set boundaries around the mountain and sanctify it.’”
Yahweh said to him, “Go down, and you are to bring Aaron up with you, but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break forth on them.”