¹⁸ When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid^[a] and trembled and stood at a distance^{(A) 19} and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”^{(B) 20} Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.”^{(C) 21} Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.^(D)