18 And (A)all the people were watching and hearing the [a]thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 (B)Then they said to Moses, “Speak [b]to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak [c]to us, or we will die!” 20 However, Moses said to the people, “(C)Do not be afraid; for God has come in order (D)to test you, and in order that (E)the fear of Him may [d]remain with you, so that you will not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached (F)the thick darkness where God was.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 20:18 Lit sounds
  2. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  3. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  4. Exodus 20:20 Lit be before

18 Now all the people witnessed the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the smoking mountain; and as they looked, the people were afraid, and they trembled [and moved backward] and stood at a [safe] distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him [that is, a profound reverence for Him] will remain with you, so that you do not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a [safe] distance, but Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

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18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

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