Exodus 19:1–11

At Mount Sinai

19On 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

³Then 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, ⁶you^a will be for me a kingdom of priestsⁿ and a holy nation.’^o These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

⁷So 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.

⁹The 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.

¹⁰And 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.