| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. | 1In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. |
| 2After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. | 2After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain. |
| 3Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: | 3Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to tell the house of Jacob and explain to the sons of Israel: |
| 4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. | 4‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. |
| 5Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. | 5Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. |
| 6And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” | 6And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.” |
| 7So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the LORD had commanded him. | 7So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. |
| 8And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the LORD. | 8And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD. |
| 9Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.” Moses told the LORD what the people had said. | 9The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you.” And Moses relayed to the LORD what the people had said. |
| 10Then the LORD told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. | 10Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes |
| 11Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. | 11and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. |
| 12Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. | 12And you are to set up a boundary for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. |
| 13No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain. ” | 13No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows—whether man or beast, he must not live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” |
| 14So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. | 14When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. |
| 15He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.” | 15“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.” |
| 16On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. | 16On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled. |
| 17Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. | 17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. |
| 18All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. | 18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. |
| 19As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. | 19And as the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder. |
| 20The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. | 20The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the summit. So Moses went up, |
| 21Then the LORD told Moses, “Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the LORD, or they will die. | 21and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. |
| 22Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves so that the LORD does not break out and destroy them.” | 22Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” |
| 23“But LORD,” Moses protested, “the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai. You already warned us. You told me, ‘Mark off a boundary all around the mountain to set it apart as holy.’” | 23But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, for You solemnly warned us, ‘Put a boundary around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ” |
| 24But the LORD said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the LORD, or he will break out and destroy them.” | 24And the LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break out against them.” |
| 25So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said. | 25So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them. |
|
