Exodus

Describes how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and how they receive laws from God.

Chapter 19

1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

*In the third month, after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived at the desert of Sinai.

2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

*After leaving Rephidim, they arrived at the Sinai desert and set up camp in the wilderness. Here, Israel set up camp near the mountain.

3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

*Moses climbed the mountain to meet God, who spoke to him, saying, "Tell this to the people of Jacob and the children of Israel."

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

*You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you like an eagle, bringing you to me.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

*So, if you listen to my words and follow my agreement, you will be special treasures just for me, more than any other group. Because the whole world belongs to me.

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

*You will be my special group of people who help others and are set apart. This is what you should tell the people of Israel.

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

*Moses arrived and asked the older folks to come, then he showed them everything the Lord told him to say.

8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

*And everyone spoke at once, saying, "We will do everything the Lord has said." Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

*And God told Moses, "I will appear to you in a big cloud so the people can hear when I talk to you. This will make them believe in you forever." Then, Moses shared the people's words with the Lord.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

*And God told Moses, "Go to the people, cleanse them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothes."

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

*Prepare by the third day because on that day, God will appear to everyone on Mount Sinai.

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

*Set boundaries for the people around you. Tell them not to go up the mountain or get too close to its edge. Anyone who touches the mountain will be killed for sure.

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

*No one can touch it without being punished - either by being stoned or shot. Whether it's an animal or a person, it won't survive. When the trumpet sounds for a long time, they will come up to the mountain.

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

*Moses came down from the mountain and made the people clean, then they washed their clothes.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

*He told the people to be prepared in three days and not to see their spouses.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

*On the third day in the morning, thunder and lightning appeared with a big cloud on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet sound. Everyone in the camp was so scared that they shook.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

*Moses led the people from the camp to meet God at the bottom of the mountain, and they stood there.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

*Mount Sinai was covered in smoke since God came down in fire. The smoke rose like that from a big furnace, and the entire mountain shook a lot.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

*When the trumpet's sound grew longer and louder, Moses spoke, and God replied with a voice.

20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

*Then God went to Mount Sinai's peak, and at the top, He called for Moses; so Moses climbed up there.

21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

*And God told Moses, "Go tell the people to stay back, or they might rush forward to see me, and many of them will die."

22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

*Priests should clean themselves up before getting close to God, or else God might suddenly show His power on them.

23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

*Moses told God, "The people can't go up to Mount Sinai because you told us to set a boundary around the mountain and make it holy."

24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.

*And God told him, "Go down now, you and Aaron should come back up together. But don't let the other priests and people try to come up too; otherwise, God might suddenly appear among them and cause harm."

25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

*So Moses descended to the people and talked to them.

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