The People Afraid of God’s Presence

18 Now zall the people awitnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain bsmoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, c“You speak with us, and we will hear; but dlet not God speak with us, lest we die.”

20 And Moses said to the people, e“Do not fear; ffor God has come to test you, and gthat His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near hthe thick darkness where God was.

The Law of the Altar

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you ifrom heaven. 23 You shall not make anything to be jwith Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. 24 An altar of kearth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, lyour sheep and your oxen. In every mplace where I 4record My name I will come to you, and I will nbless you. 25 And oif you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you puse your tool on it, you have profaned it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your qnakedness may not be exposed on it.’