Exodus 19:3-17 Jehovah called Moses from the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain to God. Jehovah told him: »This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites:

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ³ Jehovah called Moses from the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain to God. Jehovah told him: »This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites: ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to me. ⁵ ‘If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine. ⁶ ‘You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.’« ⁷ Moses went down the mountain and called for the elders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Jehovah had commanded him. ⁸ All the people answered together: »We will do everything Jehovah has said.« So Moses brought their answer back to Jehovah. ⁹ Jehovah said to Moses: »I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on.« Moses gave Jehovah the people’s answer. ¹⁰ Jehovah continued: »Go to the people and tell them to spend today and tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes. ¹¹ »They should be ready in three days. I will descend to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me. ¹² »Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death, ¹³ with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of a person killed in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet.« ¹⁴ Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ He said to the people: »Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse.« ¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble. ¹⁷ Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.