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

²¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, ^[a]warn the people, so that ^(A)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them ^[b]perish. ²² Also have the ^(B)priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” ²³ And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You ^[c]warned us, saying, ‘^(C)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” ²⁴ Then the Lord 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 the Lord, or He will break out against them.”

¹⁸ And ^(A)all the people were watching and hearing the ^[a]thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled 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 sound was such that those who heard ^(E)begged that no further word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not ^[a]cope with the command, “^(F)If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “^(G)I am terrified and trembling.”