^18 (A)And all the people perceived the ^[a]thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and the people perceived it, and they shook and stood at a distance. ^19 (B)Then they said to Moses, “Speak ^[b]to us yourself, and we will listen; but let not God speak ^[c]to us, lest we die.”

²³ Now it happened that when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. ²⁴ And you said, ‘Behold, Yahweh our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. ^25 (A)So now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any longer, then we will die. ²⁶ For ^(B)who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? ²⁷ As for you, go near and hear all that Yahweh our God says; then speak to us all that Yahweh our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’