Exodus 20:18-20
English Standard Version
18 Now when all the people saw (A)the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid[a] and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, (B)“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 (C)Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to (D)test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
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- Exodus 20:18 Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text the people saw
Exodus 20:18-20
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.”
Read full chapterThe ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
