¹⁶ On the morning of the third day there was thunder^(A) and lightning, with a thick cloud^(B) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.^(C) Everyone in the camp trembled.^{(D) 17} Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.^{(E) 18} Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,^(F) because the Lord descended on it in fire.^(G) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,^(H) and the whole mountain^[a] trembled^(I) violently. ¹⁹ As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice^(J) of God answered^(K) him.^[b]

²⁰ The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai^(L) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up ²¹ and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see^(M) the Lord and many of them perish.^{(N) 22} Even the priests, who approach^(O) the Lord, must consecrate^(P) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”^(Q)

²³ Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,^(R) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits^(S) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

²⁴ The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron^(T) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”^(U)

²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments^(V)

20 And God spoke^(W) all these words:^(X)

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

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.^(BE) God has come to test^(BF) you, so that the fear^(BG) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”^(BH)

²¹ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness^(BI) where God was.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’^(A) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name^(B) and you have found favor^(C) with me.’ ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways^(D) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”^(E)

¹⁴ The Lord replied, “My Presence^(F) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”^(G)

¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence^(H) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?^(I) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”^(J)

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked,^(K) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”^(L)

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”^(M)

¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass^(N) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,^(O) the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{(P) 20} But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see^(Q) me and live.”

²¹ Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock^(R) and cover you with my hand^(S) until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

The New Stone Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones,^(T) and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets,^(U) which you broke.^{(V) 2} Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai.^(W) Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. ³ No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain;^(X) not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.”

⁴ So Moses chiseled^(Y) out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.^{(Z) 5} Then the Lord came down in the cloud^(AA) and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.^{(AB) 6} And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate^(AC) and gracious God, slow to anger,^(AD) abounding in love^(AE) and faithfulness,^{(AF) 7} maintaining love to thousands,^(AG) and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.^(AH) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;^(AI) he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”^(AJ)

⁸ Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. ⁹ “Lord,” he said, “if I have found favor^(AK) in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us.^(AL) Although this is a stiff-necked^(AM) people, forgive our wickedness and our sin,^(AN) and take us as your inheritance.”^(AO)