Add parallel Print Page Options

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.” 20 And 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]be with you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, but Moses came near (F)the dense gloom where God was.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 20:18 Lit sounds
  2. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  3. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  4. Exodus 20:20 Lit be before

The People’s Reaction

18 All the people witnessed[a] the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it[b] they trembled and stood at a distance.(A) 19 “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”(B)

20 Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not[c] sin.”(C) 21 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was.(D)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 20:18 Lit saw
  2. 20:18 Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read smoke. The people (or they) were afraid,
  3. 20:20 Lit that the fear of him may be in you, and you do not