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Exodus 19:1-20:21
New American Standard Bible

Moses on Sinai

19 (A)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, [a]on that very day they came into the wilderness of (B)Sinai. 2 When they set out from (C)Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of (D)the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and (E)the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘(F)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on (G)eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, (H)if you will indeed obey My voice and (I)keep My covenant, then you shall be (J)My [b]own possession among all the peoples, for (K)all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me (L)a kingdom of priests and (M)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

7 (N)So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then (O)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in (P)a thick cloud, so that the (Q)people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and (R)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them (S)wash their garments; 11 and have them ready for the third day, for on (T)the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘[c]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; (U)whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but (V)he shall certainly be stoned or [d]shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to (W)the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He also said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

16 (X)So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [e]thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the [f]foot of the mountain.

The Lord Visits Sinai

18 (Y)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it (Z)in fire; and its smoke ascended like (AA)the smoke of a furnace, and (AB)the entire mountain [g]quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (AC)God answered him with [h]thunder. 20 Then (AD)the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, [i]warn the people, so that (AE)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them [j]perish. 22 Also have the (AF)priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [k]warned us, saying, ‘(AG)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “[l]Go down and come up again, (AH)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the (AI)priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments

20 Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “(AJ)I am the Lord your God, (AK)who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [m]slavery.

3 “(AL)You shall have no other (AM)gods [n]before Me.

4 “(AN)You shall not make for yourself [o]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5 (AO)You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a (AP)jealous God, (AQ)inflicting the [p]punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing [q]favor to (AR)thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “(AS)You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not [r]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember (AT)the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (AU)For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it (AV)you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your [s]resident who [t]stays with you. 11 (AW)For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “(AX)Honor your father and your mother, so that your (AY)days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

13 “(AZ)You shall not murder.

14 “(BA)You shall not commit adultery.

15 “(BB)You shall not steal.

16 “(BC)You shall not [u]give false testimony against your (BD)neighbor.

17 “(BE)You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; (BF)you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 And (BG)all the people were watching and hearing the [v]thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 (BH)Then they said to Moses, “Speak [w]to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak [x]to us, or we will die!” 20 However, Moses said to the people, “(BI)Do not be afraid; for God has come in order (BJ)to test you, and in order that (BK)the fear of Him may [y]remain with you, so that you will not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached (BL)the thick darkness where God was.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:1 Lit on this day
  2. Exodus 19:5 Or special treasure
  3. Exodus 19:12 Lit Take heed to yourselves
  4. Exodus 19:13 I.e., with arrows
  5. Exodus 19:16 Lit sounds
  6. Exodus 19:17 Lit lower part
  7. Exodus 19:18 Or trembled
  8. Exodus 19:19 Or a voice; lit a sound
  9. Exodus 19:21 Lit testify to
  10. Exodus 19:21 Lit fall
  11. Exodus 19:23 Lit testified to
  12. Exodus 19:24 Lit Go, descend
  13. Exodus 20:2 Lit slaves
  14. Exodus 20:3 Or besides Me
  15. Exodus 20:4 Or a carved image
  16. Exodus 20:5 I.e., punishment for the wrongdoing
  17. Exodus 20:6 Or faithfulness
  18. Exodus 20:7 Or hold him guiltless
  19. Exodus 20:10 Lit stranger
  20. Exodus 20:10 Lit is in your gates
  21. Exodus 20:16 Lit answer as a false witness against
  22. Exodus 20:18 Lit sounds
  23. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  24. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  25. Exodus 20:20 Lit be before
Listen to Exodus 19:1-20:21
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Exodus 19:1-20:21
New International Version

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(A)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(B) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(C) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(D)

3 Then Moses went up to God,(E) and the Lord called(F) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(G) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(H) and brought you to myself.(I) 5 Now if you obey me fully(J) and keep my covenant,(K) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(L) Although the whole earth(M) is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests(N) and a holy nation.’(O) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(P) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(Q) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(R) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(S) so that the people will hear me speaking(T) with you and will always put their trust(U) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(V) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(W) 11 and be ready by the third day,(X) because on that day the Lord will come down(Y) on Mount Sinai(Z) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(AA) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(AB) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(AC) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(AD)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(AE) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(AF) from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(AG) and lightning, with a thick cloud(AH) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(AI) Everyone in the camp trembled.(AJ) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(AK) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(AL) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(AM) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(AN) and the whole mountain[b] trembled(AO) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(AP) of God answered(AQ) him.[c]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(AR) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(AS) the Lord and many of them perish.(AT) 22 Even the priests, who approach(AU) the Lord, must consecrate(AV) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(AW)

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(AX) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(AY) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(AZ) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(BA)

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

The Ten Commandments(BB)

20 And God spoke(BC) all these words:(BD)

2 “I am the Lord your God,(BE) who brought you out(BF) of Egypt,(BG) out of the land of slavery.(BH)

3 “You shall have no other gods before[d] me.(BI)

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image(BJ) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship(BK) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(BL) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(BM) to the third and fourth generation(BN) of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand(BO) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(BP)

8 “Remember the Sabbath(BQ) day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,(BR) 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath(BS) to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,(BT) the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested(BU) on the seventh day.(BV) Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother,(BW) so that you may live long(BX) in the land(BY) the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.(BZ)

14 “You shall not commit adultery.(CA)

15 “You shall not steal.(CB)

16 “You shall not give false testimony(CC) against your neighbor.(CD)

17 “You shall not covet(CE) your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(CF) and saw the mountain in smoke,(CG) they trembled with fear.(CH) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(CI) to us or we will die.”(CJ)

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(CK) God has come to test(CL) you, so that the fear(CM) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(CN)

21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(CO) where God was.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
  2. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
  3. Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
  4. Exodus 20:3 Or besides
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Exodus 18
Exodus 21
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