New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
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In the third month after the children of Israel went out from Egypt, on the same day, they came into the waste land of Sinai.
2 They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
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And when they had gone away from Rephidim and had come into the waste land of Sinai, they put up their tents in the waste land before the mountain: there Israel put up its tents.
3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites:
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And Moses went up to God, and the voice of the Lord came to him from the mountain, saying, Say to the family of Jacob, and give word to the children of Israel:
4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
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You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I took you, as on eagles' wings, guiding you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine,
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If now you will truly give ear to my voice and keep my agreement, you will be my special property out of all the peoples: for all the earth is mine:
6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites."
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And you will be a kingdom of priests to me, and a holy nation. These are the words which you are to say to the children of Israel.
7 So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.
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And Moses came and sent for the chiefs of the people and put before them all these words which the Lord had given him orders to say.
8 The people all answered as one: "Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
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And all the people, answering together, said, Whatever the Lord has said we will do. And Moses took back to the Lord the words of the people.
9 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after." When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord,
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And the Lord said to Moses, See, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that what I say to you may come to the ears of the people and they may have belief in you for ever. And Moses gave the Lord word of what the people had said.
10 the Lord said to Moses: "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes
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And the Lord said to Moses, Go to the people and make them holy today and tomorrow, and let their clothing be washed.
11 and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
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And by the third day let them be ready: for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai, before the eyes of all the people.
12 You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, "Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death.
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And let limits be marked out for the people round the mountain, and say to them, Take care not to go up the mountain or near the sides of it: whoever puts his foot on the mountain will certainly come to his death:
13 No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain."
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He is not to be touched by a hand, but is to be stoned or have an arrow put through him; man or beast, he is to be put to death: at the long sounding of a horn they may come up to the mountain.
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes.
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Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and made the people holy; and their clothing was washed.
15 And he said to the people, "Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman."
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And he said to the people, Be ready by the third day: do not come near a woman.
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
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And when morning came on the third day, there were thunders and flames and a thick cloud on the mountain, and a horn sounding very loud; and all the people in the tents were shaking with fear.
17 Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain.
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And Moses made the people come out of their tents and take their places before God; and they came to the foot of the mountain,
18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.
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And all the mountain of Sinai was smoking, for the Lord had come down on it in fire: and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a great burning; and all the mountain was shaking.
19 As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder.
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And when the sound of the horn became louder and louder, Moses' words were answered by the voice of God.
20 When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
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Then the Lord came down on to Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and the Lord sent for Moses to come up to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look; otherwise many of them will perish.
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And the Lord said to Moses, Go down and give the people orders to keep back, for fear that a great number of them, forcing their way through to see the Lord, may come to destruction.
22 Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves or the Lord will break out against them."
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And let the priests who come near to the Lord make themselves holy, for fear that the Lord may come on them suddenly.
23 Moses said to the Lord, "The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, "Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.' "
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And Moses said to the Lord, The people will not be able to come up the mountain, for you gave us orders to put limits round the mountain, marking it out and making it holy.
24 The Lord said to him, "Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord; otherwise he will break out against them."
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And the Lord said to him, Go down, and you and Aaron may come up; but let not the priests and the people make their way through to the Lord, or he will come on them suddenly.
25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
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So Moses went down to the people and said this to them.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.