¹² Put limits^(A) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. ¹³ They are to be stoned^(B) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn^(C) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”^(D)

¹⁸ Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,^(A) because the Lord descended on it in fire.^(B) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,^(C) and the whole mountain^[a] trembled^(D) violently.

¹⁸ When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet^(A) and saw the mountain in smoke,^(B) they trembled with fear.^(C) They stayed at a distance ¹⁹ and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak^(D) to us or we will die.”^(E)

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.^(F) God has come to test^(G) you, so that the fear^(H) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”^(I)

²¹ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness^(J) where God was.

¹¹ You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain^(A) while it blazed with fire^(B) to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.^(C)

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:

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.^(A)