19. and said to Moses, “If you speak to us, we will listen. But don't let God speak to us, or we will die!”
20. “Don't be afraid!” Moses replied. “God has come only to test you, so that by obeying him you won't sin.”
21. But when Moses went near the thick cloud where God was, the people stayed a long way off.
22. The Lord told Moses to say to the people of Israel:With your own eyes, you saw me speak to you from heaven.
23. So you must never make idols of silver or gold to worship in place of me.
24. Build an altar out of earth, and offer on it your sacrifices of sheep, goats, and cattle. Wherever I choose to be worshipped, I will come down to bless you.
25. If you ever build an altar for me out of stones, do not use any tools to chisel the stones, because that would make the altar unfit.
26. And don't build an altar that requires steps; you might expose yourself when you climb up.