The People’s Reaction

¹⁸ All the people witnessed^[a] the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it^[b] they trembled and stood at a distance.^{(A) 19} “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.”^(B)

²⁰ Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not^[c] sin.”^(C)

²² “Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act,^(A) house of Israel, but for My holy name,^(B) which you profaned among the nations where you went. ²³ I will honor the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am Yahweh”—the declaration of the Lord God—“when I demonstrate My holiness through you in their sight.^(C)

²⁴ “For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.^{(D) 25} I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.^(E) I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.^{(F) 26} I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;^(G) I will remove your heart of stone^[a] and give you a heart of flesh.^{(H) 27} I will place My Spirit within you^(I) and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.^(J)