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Exodus 20:18-26
King James Version
Exodus 20:18-26
King James Version
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.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
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Exodus 20:18-26
New International Version
Exodus 20:18-26
New International Version
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)
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(J) where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(K) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(L) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(M)
24 “‘Make an altar(N) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(O) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(P) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(Q) you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool(R) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(S) may be exposed.’
Exodus 20:18-26
New King James Version
Exodus 20:18-26
New King James Version
The People Afraid of God’s Presence
18 Now (A)all the people (B)witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain (C)smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, (D)“You speak with us, and we will hear; but (E)let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
20 And Moses said to the people, (F)“Do not fear; (G)for God has come to test you, and (H)that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near (I)the thick darkness where God was.
The Law of the Altar
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you (J)from heaven. 23 You shall not make anything to be (K)with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. 24 An altar of (L)earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, (M)your sheep and your oxen. In every (N)place where I [a]record My name I will come to you, and I will (O)bless you. 25 And (P)if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you (Q)use your tool on it, you have profaned it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your (R)nakedness may not be exposed on it.’
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- Exodus 20:24 cause My name to be remembered
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.