¹⁸ When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet^(A) and saw the mountain in smoke,^(B) they trembled with fear.^(C) They stayed at a distance ¹⁹ and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak^(D) to us or we will die.”^(E)

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.^(F) God has come to test^(G) you, so that the fear^(H) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”^(I)

²³ When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders^(A) came to me. ²⁴ And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us^(B) his glory and his majesty,^(C) and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.^{(D) 25} But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer.^{(E) 26} For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?^{(F) 27} Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says.^(G) Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”^(H)

²⁸ The Lord heard you when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good.^{(I) 29} Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me^(J) and keep all my commands^(K) always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!^(L)

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba^(A) and set out for Harran.^{(B) 11} When he reached a certain place,^(C) he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head^(D) and lay down to sleep. ¹² He had a dream^(E) in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.^{(F) 13} There above it^[a] stood the Lord,^(G) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.^(H) I will give you and your descendants the land^(I) on which you are lying.^{(J) 14} Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you^(K) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.^(L) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.^{[b](M) 15} I am with you^(N) and will watch over you^(O) wherever you go,^(P) and I will bring you back to this land.^(Q) I will not leave you^(R) until I have done what I have promised you.^(S)”^(T)

¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep,^(U) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!^(V) This is none other than the house of God;^(W) this is the gate of heaven.”

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(A) 19} to a trumpet blast^(B) or to such a voice speaking words^(C) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(D) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[a](E) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b](F)

²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”^(A) they said, and cried out in fear.

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.

⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

⁵⁰ because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”^(A)