¹⁶ Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were ^(A)thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp ^(B)trembled. ¹⁷ And ^(C)Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Now ^(D)Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon ^(E)it in fire. ^(F)Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and ^[a]the ^(G)whole mountain quaked greatly. ¹⁹ And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, ^(H)Moses spoke, and ^(I)God answered him by voice. ²⁰ Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

²¹ And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through ^(J)to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. ²² Also let the ^(K)priests who come near the Lord ^(L)consecrate themselves, lest the Lord ^(M)break out against them.”

²³ But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ^(N)‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ”

²⁴ Then the Lord said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.” ²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

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.