The People Afraid of God’s Presence

23 z“So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. 24 And you said: ‘Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and awe have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he bstill lives. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; cif we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die. 26 dFor who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say, and etell us all that the Lord our God says to you, and we will hear and do it.’

28 “Then the Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me: ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. fThey are right in all that they have spoken. 29 gOh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and halways keep all My commandments, ithat it might be well with them and with their children forever! 30 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But as for you, stand here by Me, jand I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I am giving them to possess.’

32 “Therefore you shall 8be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; kyou shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in lall the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live mand that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.