1 Jehovah said to Moses: »You and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders come up the mountain to me and worship at a distance.

2 »Moses alone may come near Jehovah. The others may not. The people must not come along with Moses.«

3 Moses told the people all Jehovah’s words and legal decisions. Then all the people answered with one voice: »We will do everything Jehovah told us to do.«

4 Moses wrote down all Jehovah’s words. Early the next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He erected twelve sacred stones for the twelve tribes of Israel.

5 Moses sent young men to burn sacrifices to Jehovah. They sacrificed some cattle as peace offerings.

6 Moses took half of the blood of the animals and put it in bowls. The other half he threw against the altar.

7 He took the book of the covenant, in which Jehovah’s commandments were written, and read it aloud to the people. They said: »We will obey Jehovah. We will do everything that he has commanded.«

8 Moses took the blood from the bowls and sprinkled it on the people. Next, he told them: With this blood Jehovah makes his agreement with you.

9 Moses and Aaron, together with Nadab and Abihu and the seventy leaders, went up the mountain.

10 They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something that looked like a pavement made out of sapphire. It was as bright as the sky.

11 Even though these leaders of Israel saw God, he did not punish them. So they ate and drank.

12 Jehovah said to Moses: »Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two stone tablets on which I have written the laws that my people must obey.«

13 Moses and Joshua his assistant got ready. Moses started up the mountain to meet with God.

14 He said to the elders: »Wait here for us until we return to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. Anyone with a legal matter should approach them.«

15 Moses went up to the mountain. The cloud covered the mountain.

16 The glory of Jehovah rested on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days. God called to Moses on the seventh day. He spoke from inside the cloud.

17 To the eyes of the Israelites the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain.

18 Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain. He was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.