^16 (A)So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were ^[a]thunder and lightning flashes and a ^[b]thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

²¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go down, ^[a]warn the people, lest ^(A)they break through to Yahweh to see, and many of them ^[b]perish. ²² Also let the ^(B)priests who come near to Yahweh set themselves apart as holy, lest Yahweh break out against them.” ²³ And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You ^[c]warned us, saying, ‘^(C)Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.’” ²⁴ Then Yahweh said to him, “^[d]Go down and come up again, ^(D)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the ^(E)priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest He break out against them.”

^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.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

^18 (A)For you have not come to ^(B)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, ¹⁹ and to the ^(C)blast of a trumpet and the ^(D)sound of words which was such that those who heard ^(E)begged that no further word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not bear what was being commanded, “^(F)If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” ²¹ And so terrible was what appeared, that Moses said, “^(G)I am full of fear and trembling.”