Israel at Mount Sinai

1 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they ^pcame into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from ^qRephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before ^rthe mountain, 3 while ^sMoses went up to God. ^tThe Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ^u‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how ^vI bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be ^wmy treasured possession among all peoples, for ^xall the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a ^ykingdom of priests and ^za holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 ^aAll the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you ^bin a thick cloud, that ^cthe people may hear when I speak with you, and may also ^dbelieve you forever.”

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and ^econsecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them ^fwash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day ^gthe Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. ^hWhoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;¹ whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When ⁱthe trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses ^jwent down from the mountain to the people and ^econsecrated the people; ^fand they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the ^kthird day; ^ldo not go near a woman.”

16 On the morning of the ^kthird day there were ^mthunders and lightnings and ⁿa thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud ^otrumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp ^ptrembled. 17 Then ^qMoses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now ^rMount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and ^sthe whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the ^osound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and ^tGod answered him in thunder. 20 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 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord ^uto look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord ^vconsecrate themselves, lest the Lord ^wbreak out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ^x‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people ^ybreak through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

1 Let ^ubrotherly love continue. 2 ^vDo not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby ^wsome have entertained angels unawares. 3 ^xRemember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 ^yLet marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge ^zthe sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life ^afree from love of money, and ^bbe content with what you have, for he has said, ^c“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

7 Remember ^fyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^gimitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is ^hthe same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be ⁱled away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^jnot by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar ^kfrom which those who serve the tent¹ have no right to eat. 11 For ^lthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned ^moutside the camp. 12 So Jesus also ⁿsuffered ^ooutside the gate in order to sanctify the people ^pthrough his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear ^qthe reproach he endured. 14 For ^rhere we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 ^sThrough him then let us continually offer up ^ta sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^uthe fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and ^vto share what you have, for such ^wsacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey ^xyour leaders and submit to them, ^yfor they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^zgive an account. ^aLet them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 ^bPray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order ^cthat I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

20 Now ^dmay the God of peace ^ewho brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^fthe great shepherd of the sheep, by ^gthe blood of the eternal covenant, 21 ^hequip you with everything good that you may do his will, ⁱworking in us² that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, ^jto whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.