¹⁸ All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance.

¹⁹ They said to Moses, "Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don't let God Speak with us, lest we die."

²⁰ Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin."

²¹ The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

²² Yahweh said to Moses, "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

²³ You shall most certainly not make alongside of me gods of silver, or gods of gold for yourselves.

²⁴ You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you.

²⁵ If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.

²⁶ Neither shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.'