^12:18For you have not come to something that can be touched,²⁵ to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind ^12:19and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words²⁶ such that those who heard begged to hear no more.²⁷^12:20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”²⁸^12:21In fact, the scene²⁹ was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”³⁰

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Footnotes

25 This describes the nation of Israel approaching God on Mt. Sinai (Exod 19). There is a clear contrast with the reference to Mount Zion in v. 22, so this could be translated “a mountain that can be touched.” But the word “mountain” does not occur here and the more vague description seems to be deliberate.
26 Grk “a voice of words.”
27 Grk “a voice … from which those who heard begged that a word not be added to them.”
28 A quotation from Exod 19:12–13.
29 Grk “that which appeared.”
30 Grk “I am terrified and trembling.” A quotation from Deut 9:19.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.

NLTNew Living Translation

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For you have not come to something that can be touched, and to a burning fire, and to darkness, and to gloom, and to a whirlwind, and to the noise of a trumpet, and to the sound of words which those who heard begged that not another word be spoken to them. For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” And the spectacle was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

KJV 1900King James Version

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

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