3. Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites:
4. ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.
5. Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine,
6. and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
7. After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.
8. Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.” So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord.
9. The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always believe you.” Then Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord.
10. And the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
11. and 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.
12. Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death.
13. No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain.”