Now as all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blast of the shofar and the mountain smoking, they became afraid and trembled. So they took up a position farther away and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die.”

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid, for God has come only to test you and put the fear of him upon you so you do not sin.”

So the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.