⁵ (At that time I stood between^(A) the Lord and you to declare to you the word of the Lord, because you were afraid^(B) of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:

²³ When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leaders of your tribes and your elders^(A) came to me. ²⁴ And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us^(B) his glory and his majesty,^(C) and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.^{(D) 25} But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer.^{(E) 26} For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?^{(F) 27} Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says.^(G) Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”^(H)