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Exodus 14-20
New American Standard Bible

Pharaoh in Pursuit

14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of (A)Pi-hahiroth, between (B)Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And (C)I will [a]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and (D)he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and (E)the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, [b]Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he had horses harnessed to his chariot and took his people with him; 7 and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 So (F)the Lord [c]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out [d](G)boldly. 9 Then (H)the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, (I)beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel [e]looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; (J)so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then (K)they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, [f]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 (L)Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[g]Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”

The Sea Is Divided

13 But Moses said to the people, “(M)Do not fear! [h]Stand by and see (N)the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. 14 (O)The Lord will fight for you, while (P)you keep silent.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up (Q)your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall [i]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 And as for Me, behold, (R)I will [j]harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 (S)Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.”

19 Then (T)the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud [k]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Therefore the one did not approach the other all night.

21 (U)Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord [l]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into (V)dry land, and (W)the waters were divided. 22 So (X)the sons of Israel [m]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and (Y)the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23 Then (Z)the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 But at the morning watch, (AA)the Lord looked down on the [n]army of the Egyptians [o]through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the [p]army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He [q]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, (AB)for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(AC)Reach out with your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses reached out with his hand over the sea, and (AD)the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing [r]right into it; then the Lord [s](AE)overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; (AF)not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on (AG)dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.

30 (AH)So the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (AI)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great [t]power which the Lord had [u]used against the Egyptians, the people [v]feared the Lord, and (AJ)they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

The Song of Moses and Israel

15 (AK)Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, [w]saying:

“[x](AL)I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;
(AM)The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
2 [y](AN)The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
(AO)This is my God, and I will praise Him;
(AP)My father’s God, and I will (AQ)exalt Him.
3 (AR)The Lord is a warrior;
[z](AS)The Lord is His name.
4 (AT)Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are [aa]drowned in the [ab]Red Sea.
5 The waters cover them;
(AU)They went down into the depths like a stone.
6 (AV)Your right hand, Lord, is majestic in power;
(AW)Your right hand, Lord, destroys the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of Your [ac]excellence You (AX)overthrow those who rise up against You;
(AY)You send out Your burning anger, and it (AZ)consumes them like chaff.
8 (BA)At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,
(BB)The flowing waters stood up like a heap;
The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 (BC)The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will (BD)divide the spoils;
[ad]I shall [ae]be satisfied against them;
I will draw my sword, my hand will [af]destroy them.’
10 (BE)You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;
(BF)They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 (BG)Who is like You among the gods, Lord?
Who is like You, (BH)majestic in holiness,
(BI)Awesome in praises, (BJ)working wonders?
12 (BK)You reached out with Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 In Your [ag]faithfulness You have (BL)led the people whom You have (BM)redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them (BN)to Your holy habitation.
14 (BO)The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the (BP)chiefs of Edom were terrified;
(BQ)The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
(BR)All the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired.
16 (BS)Terror and dread fall upon them;
(BT)By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone,
Until Your people pass over, Lord,
Until the people pass over whom You (BU)have purchased.
17 (BV)You will bring them and (BW)plant them in (BX)the mountain of Your inheritance,
(BY)The place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling,
(BZ)The sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 (CA)The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”

19 (CB)For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on (CC)dry land through the midst of the sea.

20 (CD)Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the (CE)tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with [ah](CF)dancing. 21 And Miriam answered them,

“(CG)Sing to the Lord, for He [ai]is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”

The Lord Provides Water

22 (CH)Then Moses [aj]led Israel from the [ak]Red Sea, and they went out into (CI)the wilderness of (CJ)Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to (CK)Marah, they could not drink the waters [al]of Marah, because they were [am]bitter; for that reason it was named [an]Marah. 24 So the people (CL)grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” 25 Then he (CM)cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him (CN)a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet.

There He (CO)made for them a statute and regulation, and there He (CP)tested them. 26 And He said, “(CQ)If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen (CR)to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, (CS)I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, (CT)the Lord, am your healer.”

27 Then they came to (CU)Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.

The Lord Provides Manna

16 Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of (CV)Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on (CW)the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2 But the whole congregation of the sons of Israel (CX)grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The sons of Israel said to them, “(CY)If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, (CZ)when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger!”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, (DA)I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may (DB)test them, whether or not they will walk in My [ao]instruction. 5 (DC)On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening [ap](DD)you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7 and in the morning [aq]you will see (DE)the glory of the Lord, for (DF)He hears your grumblings against the Lord; and (DG)what are we, that you grumble against us?”

The Lord Provides Meat

8 And Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are (DH)not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘(DI)Come forward before the Lord, for He has heard your grumblings.’” 10 And it came about, as Aaron spoke to the entire congregation of the sons of Israel, that they [ar]looked toward the wilderness, and behold, (DJ)the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “(DK)I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, ‘[as]At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and (DL)you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 So it came about at evening that (DM)the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning (DN)there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 (DO)When the layer of dew [at]evaporated, behold, on the [au]surface of the wilderness (DP)there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “[av]What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “(DQ)It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is [aw]what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone gather [ax]as much as he will eat; you shall take [ay](DR)an omer apiece according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’” 17 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it by the [az]omer, (DS)the one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little; everyone gathered [ba]as much as he would eat. 19 Moses said to them, “(DT)No one is to leave any of it until morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank; and Moses was angry with them. 21 They gathered it morning by morning, everyone [bb]as much as he would eat; but when the sun became hot, it would melt.

The Sabbath

22 (DU)Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, [bc]two omers for each one. When all the (DV)leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 then he said to them, “This is what the Lord [bd]meant: (DW)Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and (DX)all that is left over [be]put aside to be kept until morning.” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and (DY)it did not stink nor was there a maggot in it. 25 Then Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 (DZ)Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be [bf]none.”

27 Yet it came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(EA)How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My [bg]instructions? 29 See, [bh]the Lord has given you the Sabbath; for that reason He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain, everyone, in his place; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 And the house of (EB)Israel named the bread [bi]manna, and it was like (EC)coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey. 32 Then Moses said, “This is [bj]what the Lord has commanded: ‘A [bk]full omer of it is to be kept safe throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 And Moses said to Aaron, “(ED)Take a jar and put a [bl]full omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept safe throughout your generations.” 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before (EE)the Testimony, to be kept. 35 And (EF)the sons of Israel ate the manna for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (Now (EG)an [bm]omer is a tenth of an ephah.)

Water in the Rock

17 Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by [bn]stages from the wilderness of (EH)Sin, according to the [bo]command of the Lord, and camped at (EI)Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So the people (EJ)quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “(EK)Why do you quarrel with me? (EL)Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there; and [bp]they (EM)grumbled against Moses and said, “Why is it that you have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill [bq]us and [br]our children and [bs](EN)our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What am I to do with this people? A (EO)little more and they will stone me!” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of (EP)the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which (EQ)you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at (ER)Horeb; and (ES)you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 Then he named the place [bt](ET)Massah and [bu](EU)Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they (EV)tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?”

Miraculous Battle against Amalek

8 Then (EW)Amalek came and fought against Israel at (EX)Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to (EY)Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with (EZ)the staff of God in my hand.” 10 Joshua did just as Moses [bv]told him, [bw]and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and (FA)Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand [bx]down, Amalek prevailed. 12 And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur (FB)supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 And Joshua [by]defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(FC)Write this in [bz]a book as a memorial and [ca]recite it to Joshua, [cb]that (FD)I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an (FE)altar and named it (FF)The Lord is My Banner; 16 and he said, “[cc](FG)Because the Lord has sworn, the Lord will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

18 Now (FH)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife (FI)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her (FJ)two sons, [cd]one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (FK)a stranger in a foreign land.” 4 And [ce]the other was named [cf](FL)Eliezer, for he said, “(FM)The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [cg]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (FN)the mountain of God. 6 And he [ch]sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (FO)he bowed down and (FP)kissed him; and they (FQ)asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (FR)for Israel’s sake, all the (FS)hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how (FT)the Lord had rescued them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all (FU)the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, [ci]in rescuing [cj]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(FV)Blessed be the Lord who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (FW)the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, [ck](FX)it was proven when they acted insolently against [cl]the people.” 12 (FY)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [cm]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro Counsels Moses

13 And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (FZ)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [cn](GA)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (GB)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [co]these people who are with you, because the [cp]task is too heavy for you; (GC)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [cq]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [cr]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (GD)bring the [cs]disputes to God, 20 (GE)then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (GF)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [ct]select out of all the people (GG)able men (GH)who fear God, men of truth, those who (GI)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [cu]of hundreds, [cv]of fifties, and [cw]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (GJ)that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and (GK)they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [cx]endure, and all [cy]these people also will go to [cz]their places in peace.”

24 So Moses listened [da]to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose (GL)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [db]of hundreds, [dc]of fifties, and [dd]of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; (GM)they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27 Then Moses [de](GN)said goodbye to his father-in-law, and [df]Jethro went his way to his own land.

Moses on Sinai

19 (GO)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, [dg]on that very day they came into the wilderness of (GP)Sinai. 2 When they set out from (GQ)Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of (GR)the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and (GS)the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘(GT)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on (GU)eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, (GV)if you will indeed obey My voice and (GW)keep My covenant, then you shall be (GX)My [dh]own possession among all the peoples, for (GY)all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me (GZ)a kingdom of priests and (HA)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

7 (HB)So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then (HC)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in (HD)a thick cloud, so that the (HE)people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and (HF)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them (HG)wash their garments; 11 and have them ready for the third day, for on (HH)the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘[di]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; (HI)whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but (HJ)he shall certainly be stoned or [dj]shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to (HK)the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He also said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

16 (HL)So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [dk]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. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the [dl]foot of the mountain.

The Lord Visits Sinai

18 (HM)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it (HN)in fire; and its smoke ascended like (HO)the smoke of a furnace, and (HP)the entire mountain [dm]quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (HQ)God answered him with [dn]thunder. 20 Then (HR)the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, [do]warn the people, so that (HS)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them [dp]perish. 22 Also have the (HT)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 [dq]warned us, saying, ‘(HU)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “[dr]Go down and come up again, (HV)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the (HW)priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments

20 Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “(HX)I am the Lord your God, (HY)who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [ds]slavery.

3 “(HZ)You shall have no other (IA)gods [dt]before Me.

4 “(IB)You shall not make for yourself [du]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5 (IC)You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a (ID)jealous God, (IE)inflicting the [dv]punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing [dw]favor to (IF)thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “(IG)You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not [dx]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember (IH)the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (II)For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it (IJ)you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your [dy]resident who [dz]stays with you. 11 (IK)For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “(IL)Honor your father and your mother, so that your (IM)days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

13 “(IN)You shall not murder.

14 “(IO)You shall not commit adultery.

15 “(IP)You shall not steal.

16 “(IQ)You shall not [ea]give false testimony against your (IR)neighbor.

17 “(IS)You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; (IT)you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 And (IU)all the people were watching and hearing the [eb]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. 19 (IV)Then they said to Moses, “Speak [ec]to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak [ed]to us, or we will die!” 20 However, Moses said to the people, “(IW)Do not be afraid; for God has come in order (IX)to test you, and in order that (IY)the fear of Him may [ee]remain with you, so that you will not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached (IZ)the thick darkness where God was.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that (JA)I have spoken [ef]to you from heaven. 23 (JB)You shall not make other gods besides Me; (JC)gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. 24 You shall make (JD)an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your (JE)burnt offerings and your (JF)peace offerings, (JG)your sheep and your oxen; in every place (JH)where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 And if you make an altar of stone for Me, (JI)you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your chisel on it, you will profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that (JJ)your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:4 Lit make strong
  2. Exodus 14:5 Lit the heart of Pharaoh...was changed
  3. Exodus 14:8 Lit made strong
  4. Exodus 14:8 Lit with a high hand
  5. Exodus 14:10 Lit lifted up their eyes
  6. Exodus 14:11 Lit so as to bring
  7. Exodus 14:12 Lit Cease from us
  8. Exodus 14:13 Or Take your stand
  9. Exodus 14:16 Lit enter the
  10. Exodus 14:17 Lit make strong
  11. Exodus 14:20 Lit and the darkness
  12. Exodus 14:21 Lit caused to go
  13. Exodus 14:22 Lit entered the
  14. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  15. Exodus 14:24 Or in
  16. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  17. Exodus 14:25 Or removed
  18. Exodus 14:27 Lit to meet it
  19. Exodus 14:27 Lit shook off
  20. Exodus 14:31 Lit hand
  21. Exodus 14:31 Lit done
  22. Exodus 14:31 Or revered
  23. Exodus 15:1 Lit and said, saying
  24. Exodus 15:1 Or Let me sing
  25. Exodus 15:2 Heb Yah
  26. Exodus 15:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  27. Exodus 15:4 Lit sunk
  28. Exodus 15:4 Lit Sea of Reeds
  29. Exodus 15:7 Or exaltation
  30. Exodus 15:9 Lit My soul
  31. Exodus 15:9 Lit be filled with them
  32. Exodus 15:9 Or dispossess; or drive them out
  33. Exodus 15:13 Or mercy
  34. Exodus 15:20 Lit dances
  35. Exodus 15:21 Or has triumphed gloriously
  36. Exodus 15:22 Lit caused Israel to journey
  37. Exodus 15:22 Lit Sea of Reeds
  38. Exodus 15:23 Lit from
  39. Exodus 15:23 Heb Marim
  40. Exodus 15:23 I.e., bitterness
  41. Exodus 16:4 Or law
  42. Exodus 16:6 Lit and you
  43. Exodus 16:7 Lit and you
  44. Exodus 16:10 Lit turned
  45. Exodus 16:12 Lit Between the two evenings
  46. Exodus 16:14 Lit had gone up
  47. Exodus 16:14 Lit face of
  48. Exodus 16:15 Heb Man hu, cf. v 31
  49. Exodus 16:16 Lit the thing which
  50. Exodus 16:16 Lit according to his eating
  51. Exodus 16:16 Lit an omer for a head; about 3 qt. or 2.8 liters
  52. Exodus 16:18 About 3 qt. or 2.8 liters
  53. Exodus 16:18 Lit according to his eating
  54. Exodus 16:21 Lit according to his eating
  55. Exodus 16:22 About 6 qt. or 5.6 liters
  56. Exodus 16:23 Lit spoke
  57. Exodus 16:23 Lit lay up for you
  58. Exodus 16:26 Lit none on it
  59. Exodus 16:28 Or laws
  60. Exodus 16:29 Lit for the Lord
  61. Exodus 16:31 Heb man, cf. v 15
  62. Exodus 16:32 Lit the thing which
  63. Exodus 16:32 About 3 qt. or 2.8 liters
  64. Exodus 16:33 About 3 qt. or 2.8 liters
  65. Exodus 16:36 About 3 qt. or 2.8 liters
  66. Exodus 17:1 Lit their journeyings
  67. Exodus 17:1 Lit mouth
  68. Exodus 17:3 Lit the people
  69. Exodus 17:3 Lit me
  70. Exodus 17:3 Lit my
  71. Exodus 17:3 Lit my
  72. Exodus 17:7 I.e., test
  73. Exodus 17:7 I.e., quarrel
  74. Exodus 17:10 Lit said to
  75. Exodus 17:10 Lit to fight
  76. Exodus 17:11 Lit rest
  77. Exodus 17:13 Lit weakened
  78. Exodus 17:14 Lit the book
  79. Exodus 17:14 Lit place it in the ears of
  80. Exodus 17:14 Or for
  81. Exodus 17:16 Or Because a hand is against the throne of the Lord; lit Because a hand upon the throne of Yah
  82. Exodus 18:3 Lit the name of the one was
  83. Exodus 18:4 Lit The name of the other was
  84. Exodus 18:4 Heb El-ezer; i.e., my God is help
  85. Exodus 18:5 Lit unto
  86. Exodus 18:6 Lit said
  87. Exodus 18:9 Lit in that He had delivered
  88. Exodus 18:9 Lit him
  89. Exodus 18:11 Lit in the thing in which they acted
  90. Exodus 18:11 Lit them
  91. Exodus 18:12 Lit bread
  92. Exodus 18:16 Lit matter
  93. Exodus 18:18 Lit this
  94. Exodus 18:18 Lit matter
  95. Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice
  96. Exodus 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of God
  97. Exodus 18:19 Lit matters
  98. Exodus 18:21 Lit see
  99. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  100. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  101. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  102. Exodus 18:23 Lit stand
  103. Exodus 18:23 Lit this
  104. Exodus 18:23 Lit his
  105. Exodus 18:24 Lit to the voice of
  106. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  107. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  108. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  109. Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law
  110. Exodus 18:27 Lit he
  111. Exodus 19:1 Lit on this day
  112. Exodus 19:5 Or special treasure
  113. Exodus 19:12 Lit Take heed to yourselves
  114. Exodus 19:13 I.e., with arrows
  115. Exodus 19:16 Lit sounds
  116. Exodus 19:17 Lit lower part
  117. Exodus 19:18 Or trembled
  118. Exodus 19:19 Or a voice; lit a sound
  119. Exodus 19:21 Lit testify to
  120. Exodus 19:21 Lit fall
  121. Exodus 19:23 Lit testified to
  122. Exodus 19:24 Lit Go, descend
  123. Exodus 20:2 Lit slaves
  124. Exodus 20:3 Or besides Me
  125. Exodus 20:4 Or a carved image
  126. Exodus 20:5 I.e., punishment for the wrongdoing
  127. Exodus 20:6 Or faithfulness
  128. Exodus 20:7 Or hold him guiltless
  129. Exodus 20:10 Lit stranger
  130. Exodus 20:10 Lit is in your gates
  131. Exodus 20:16 Lit answer as a false witness against
  132. Exodus 20:18 Lit sounds
  133. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  134. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  135. Exodus 20:20 Lit be before
  136. Exodus 20:22 Lit with
Listen to Exodus 14-20
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Exodus 14-20
New International Version

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(A) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(B) 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(C) and he will pursue them.(D) But I will gain glory(E) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(F) So the Israelites did this.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(G) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(H) about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots,(I) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart(J) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(K) 9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(L) and chariots, horsemen[a] and troops(M)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(N) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(O)

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(P) out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?(Q) What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”(R)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(S) Stand firm and you will see(T) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(U) again. 14 The Lord will fight(V) for you; you need only to be still.”(W)

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(X) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(Y) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(Z) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(AA) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(AB) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(AC) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God,(AD) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(AE) also moved from in front and stood behind(AF) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(AG) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand(AH) over the sea,(AI) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(AJ) and turned it into dry land.(AK) The waters were divided,(AL) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(AM) on dry ground,(AN) with a wall(AO) of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(AP) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(AQ) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(AR) 25 He jammed[b] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting(AS) for them against Egypt.”(AT)

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.(AU) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[c] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(AV) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(AW) Not one of them survived.(AX)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AY) with a wall(AZ) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(BA) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(BB) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(BC) the Lord and put their trust(BD) in him and in Moses his servant.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(BE) to the Lord:

“I will sing(BF) to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(BG)
    he has hurled into the sea.(BH)

2 “The Lord is my strength(BI) and my defense[d];
    he has become my salvation.(BJ)
He is my God,(BK) and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt(BL) him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;(BM)
    the Lord is his name.(BN)
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(BO)
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[e]
5 The deep waters(BP) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.(BQ)
6 Your right hand,(BR) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(BS) Lord,
    shattered(BT) the enemy.

7 “In the greatness of your majesty(BU)
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(BV)
    it consumed(BW) them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils(BX)
    the waters piled up.(BY)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(BZ)
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(CA)
9 The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue,(CB) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(CC)
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(CD)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.(CE)
11 Who among the gods
    is like you,(CF) Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,(CG)
awesome in glory,(CH)
    working wonders?(CI)

12 “You stretch out(CJ) your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.(CK)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(CL)
    the people you have redeemed.(CM)
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.(CN)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(CO)
    anguish(CP) will grip the people of Philistia.(CQ)
15 The chiefs(CR) of Edom(CS) will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(CT)
the people[f] of Canaan will melt(CU) away;
16     terror(CV) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone(CW)—
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[g](CX) pass by.(CY)
17 You will bring(CZ) them in and plant(DA) them
    on the mountain(DB) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(DC)
    the sanctuary,(DD) Lord, your hands established.

18 “The Lord reigns
    for ever and ever.”(DE)

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[h] went into the sea,(DF) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(DG) 20 Then Miriam(DH) the prophet,(DI) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(DJ) and dancing.(DK) 21 Miriam sang(DL) to them:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(DM)
    he has hurled into the sea.”(DN)

The Waters of Marah and Elim

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(DO) of Shur.(DP) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(DQ) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[i](DR)) 24 So the people grumbled(DS) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(DT)

25 Then Moses cried out(DU) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(DV) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.(DW) 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep(DX) all his decrees,(DY) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(DZ) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(EA) you.”

27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped(EB) there near the water.

Manna and Quail

16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,(EC) which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.(ED) 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled(EE) against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!(EF) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food(EG) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”(EH)

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven(EI) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test(EJ) them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice(EK) as much as they gather on the other days.”

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,(EL) 7 and in the morning you will see the glory(EM) of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling(EN) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”(EO) 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling(EP) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”(EQ)

9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory(ER) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.(ES)

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling(ET) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”(EU)

13 That evening quail(EV) came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew(EW) around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost(EX) on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know(EY) what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread(EZ) the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[j](FA) for each person you have in your tent.’”

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.(FB) Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”(FC)

20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.(FD) So Moses was angry(FE) with them.

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice(FF) as much—two omers[k] for each person—and the leaders of the community(FG) came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath(FH) to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath,(FI) there will not be any.”

27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you[l] refuse to keep my commands(FJ) and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.[m](FK) It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’”

33 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna(FL) in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.”

34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law,(FM) so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate manna(FN) forty years,(FO) until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.(FP)

36 (An omer(FQ) is one-tenth of an ephah.)(FR)

Water From the Rock

17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,(FS) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,(FT) but there was no water(FU) for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water(FV) to drink.”(FW)

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”(FX)

3 But the people were thirsty(FY) for water there, and they grumbled(FZ) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die(GA) of thirst?”

4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone(GB) me.”

5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff(GC) with which you struck the Nile,(GD) and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.(GE) Strike(GF) the rock, and water(GG) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah[n](GH) and Meribah[o](GI) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The Amalekites Defeated

8 The Amalekites(GJ) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.(GK) 9 Moses said to Joshua,(GL) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff(GM) of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur(GN) went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,(GO) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.(GP) 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite(GQ) army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(GR) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out(GS) the name of Amalek(GT) from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar(GU) and called(GV) it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[p] the throne of the Lord,[q] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites(GW) from generation to generation.”(GX)

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,(GY) the priest of Midian(GZ) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(HA)

2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(HB) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons.(HC) One son was named Gershom,[r] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(HD) 4 and the other was named Eliezer,[s](HE) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(HF) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(HG) of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(HH) and kissed(HI) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(HJ) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(HK) them.

9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(HL) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(HM) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(HN) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(HO) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(HP) brought a burnt offering(HQ) and other sacrifices(HR) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(HS) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(HT) of God.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(HU) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(HV) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(HW)

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(HX) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(HY) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(HZ) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(IA) and show them the way they are to live(IB) and how they are to behave.(IC) 21 But select capable men(ID) from all the people—men who fear(IE) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(IF)—and appoint them as officials(IG) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(IH) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(II) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(IJ) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(IK) 26 They served as judges(IL) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(IM) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(IN)

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(IO)

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(IP)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(IQ) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(IR) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(IS)

3 Then Moses went up to God,(IT) and the Lord called(IU) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(IV) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(IW) and brought you to myself.(IX) 5 Now if you obey me fully(IY) and keep my covenant,(IZ) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(JA) Although the whole earth(JB) is mine, 6 you[t] will be for me a kingdom of priests(JC) and a holy nation.’(JD) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(JE) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(JF) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(JG) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(JH) so that the people will hear me speaking(JI) with you and will always put their trust(JJ) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(JK) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(JL) 11 and be ready by the third day,(JM) because on that day the Lord will come down(JN) on Mount Sinai(JO) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(JP) 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(JQ) 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(JR) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(JS)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(JT) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(JU) from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(JV) and lightning, with a thick cloud(JW) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(JX) Everyone in the camp trembled.(JY) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(JZ) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(KA) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(KB) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(KC) and the whole mountain[u] trembled(KD) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(KE) of God answered(KF) him.[v]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(KG) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(KH) the Lord and many of them perish.(KI) 22 Even the priests, who approach(KJ) the Lord, must consecrate(KK) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(KL)

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(KM) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(KN) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(KO) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(KP)

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments(KQ)

20 And God spoke(KR) all these words:(KS)

2 “I am the Lord your God,(KT) who brought you out(KU) of Egypt,(KV) out of the land of slavery.(KW)

3 “You shall have no other gods before[w] me.(KX)

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image(KY) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship(KZ) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(LA) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(LB) to the third and fourth generation(LC) of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand(LD) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(LE)

8 “Remember the Sabbath(LF) day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,(LG) 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath(LH) to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,(LI) the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested(LJ) on the seventh day.(LK) Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother,(LL) so that you may live long(LM) in the land(LN) the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.(LO)

14 “You shall not commit adultery.(LP)

15 “You shall not steal.(LQ)

16 “You shall not give false testimony(LR) against your neighbor.(LS)

17 “You shall not covet(LT) your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(LU) and saw the mountain in smoke,(LV) they trembled with fear.(LW) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(LX) to us or we will die.”(LY)

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(LZ) God has come to test(MA) you, so that the fear(MB) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(MC)

21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(MD) where God was.

Idols and Altars

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(ME) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(MF) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(MG)

24 “‘Make an altar(MH) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(MI) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(MJ) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(MK) you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool(ML) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(MM) may be exposed.’

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
  2. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  3. Exodus 14:27 Or from
  4. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  5. Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
  6. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
  7. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  8. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
  9. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
  10. Exodus 16:16 That is, possibly about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kilograms; also in verses 18, 32, 33 and 36
  11. Exodus 16:22 That is, possibly about 6 pounds or about 2.8 kilograms
  12. Exodus 16:28 The Hebrew is plural.
  13. Exodus 16:31 Manna sounds like the Hebrew for What is it? (see verse 15).
  14. Exodus 17:7 Massah means testing.
  15. Exodus 17:7 Meribah means quarreling.
  16. Exodus 17:16 Or to
  17. Exodus 17:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  18. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
  19. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
  20. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
  21. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
  22. Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
  23. Exodus 20:3 Or besides
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Exodus 13
Exodus 21
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