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.

²² Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that ^(G)I have spoken ^[e]to you from heaven. ^23 (H)You shall not make other gods besides Me; ^(I)gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. ²⁴ You shall make ^(J)an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your ^(K)burnt offerings and your ^(L)peace offerings, ^(M)your sheep and your oxen; in every place ^(N)where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. ²⁵ And if you make an altar of stone for Me, ^(O)you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your chisel on it, you will profane it. ²⁶ And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that ^(P)your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’