⁵ “Do not come any closer,”^(A) God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”^(B)

¹² Put limits^(A) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.

¹³ They are to be stoned^(A) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn^(B) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”^(C)

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(A) 19} to a trumpet blast^(B) or to such a voice speaking words^(C) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(D) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[a](E) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b](F)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(G) to the city^(H) of the living God,^(I) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(J) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(K) whose names are written in heaven.^(L) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(M) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(N) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(O) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(P) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(Q)