Be ready in the morning is literally “You [singular] be standing firm for the morning.” The same command is given to the people in 19.15. This may mean “Get ready for tomorrow morning” (New American Bible) or “Be ready tomorrow morning” (Contemporary English Version), but Good News Translation‘s “Get ready tomorrow morning” may incorrectly suggest waiting until morning to start getting ready. And come up in the morning to Mount Sinai is literally “and you will ascend in the morning unto Mount Sinai.” The distinction between come up and “go up” (Revised English Bible) is discussed at 32.15 and 1.1. In the present context Yahweh should be understood as speaking to Moses at the foot of the mountain.

And present yourself there to me is literally “and you will stand there to [or, for] me.” The same word is used in 33.21. (See the comment there.) Good News Translation simply has “meet me there,” but New Jerusalem Bible has “wait for me there.” This may be conditioned by verse 5, which suggests that Moses got there first. On the top of the mountain, literally “on the head of the mountain,” means the peak or the “summit” (Durham). (See 24.17.) Good News Translation has “meet me there at the top” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .