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Exodus 14:15-16:10
Common English Bible
Exodus 14:15-16:10
Common English Bible
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to get moving. 16 As for you, lift your shepherd’s rod, stretch out your hand over the sea, and split it in two so that the Israelites can go into the sea on dry ground. 17 But me, I’ll make the Egyptians stubborn so that they will go in after them, and I’ll gain honor at the expense of Pharaoh, all his army, his chariots, and his cavalry. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I gain honor at the expense of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his cavalry.”
19 God’s messenger, who had been in front of Israel’s camp, moved and went behind them. The column of cloud moved from the front and took its place behind them. 20 It stood between Egypt’s camp and Israel’s camp. The cloud remained there, and when darkness fell it lit up the night. They didn’t come near each other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two. 22 The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians chased them and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry. 24 As morning approached, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp from the column of lightning and cloud and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. 25 The Lord jammed their chariot wheels so that they wouldn’t turn easily. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites, because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak, the sea returned to its normal depth. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained. 29 The Israelites, however, walked on dry ground through the sea. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.
30 The Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the amazing power of the Lord against the Egyptians. The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Moses’ victory song
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
I will sing to the Lord, for an overflowing victory!
Horse and rider he threw into the sea!
2 The Lord is my strength and my power;[a]
he has become my salvation.
This is my God, whom I will praise,
the God of my ancestors, whom I will acclaim.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he hurled into the sea;
his elite captains were sunk in the Reed Sea.[b]
5 The deep sea covered them;
they sank into the deep waters like a stone.
6 Your strong hand, Lord, is dominant in power;
your strong hand, Lord, shatters the enemy!
7 With your great surge you overthrow your opponents;
you send out your hot anger; it burns them up like straw.
8 With the breath of your nostrils the waters swelled up,
the floods surged up in a great wave;
the deep waters foamed in the depths of the sea.
9 The enemy said, “I’ll pursue, I’ll overtake,
I’ll divide the spoils of war.
I’ll be overfilled with them.
I’ll draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.”
10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered over them.
They sank like lead in the towering waters.
11 Who is like you among the gods, Lord?
Who is like you, foremost in holiness,
worthy of highest praise, doing awesome deeds?
12 You raised your strong hand;
earth swallowed them up.
13 With your great loyalty you led the people you rescued;
with your power you guided them to your sanctuary.
14 The peoples heard, they shook in terror;
horror grabbed hold of Philistia’s inhabitants.
15 Then Edom’s tribal chiefs were terrified;
panic grabbed hold of Moab’s rulers;
all of Canaan’s inhabitants melted in fear.
16 Terror and fear came over them;
because of your great power,
they were as still as a stone
until your people, Lord, passed by,
until the people you made your own passed by.
17 You brought them in and planted them on your own mountain,
the place, Lord, that you made your home,
the sanctuary, Lord, that your hand created.
18 The Lord will rule forever and always.
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.
Miriam’s victory song
20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her playing tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang the refrain back to them:
Sing to the Lord, for an overflowing victory!
Horse and rider he threw into the sea!
Turning bitter water sweet
22 Then Moses had Israel leave the Reed Sea[c] and go out into the Shur desert. They traveled for three days in the desert and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink Marah’s water because it was bitter. That’s why it was called Marah.[d] 24 The people complained against Moses, “What will we drink?” 25 Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord pointed out a tree to him. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
The Lord made a regulation and a ruling there, and there he tested them. 26 The Lord said, “If you are careful to obey the Lord your God, do what God thinks is right, pay attention to his commandments, and keep all of his regulations, then I won’t bring on you any of the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They camped there by the water.
Wilderness food: manna and quail
16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Sin desert, which is located between Elim and Sinai. They set out on the fifteenth day of the second month[e] after they had left the land of Egypt. 2 The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert. 3 The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I’m going to make bread rain down from the sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that day. In this way, I’ll test them to see whether or not they follow my Instruction. 5 On the sixth day, when they measure out what they have collected, it will be twice as much as they collected on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 And in the morning you will see the Lord’s glorious presence, because your complaints against the Lord have been heard. Who are we? Why blame us?” 8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning because the Lord heard the complaints you made against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against us but against the Lord.”
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole Israelite community, ‘Come near to the Lord, because he’s heard your complaints.’” 10 As Aaron spoke to the whole Israelite community, they turned to look toward the desert, and just then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
Footnotes
- Exodus 15:2 Or song
- Exodus 15:4 Or Red Sea
- Exodus 15:22 Or Red Sea
- Exodus 15:23 Or bitter
- Exodus 16:1 April–May, Iyar
Exodus 14:15-16:10
New International Version
Exodus 14:15-16:10
New International Version
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(A) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(B) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(C) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(D) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(E) 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(F) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
19 Then the angel of God,(G) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(H) also moved from in front and stood behind(I) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(J) 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(K) over the sea,(L) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(M) and turned it into dry land.(N) The waters were divided,(O) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(P) on dry ground,(Q) with a wall(R) of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(S) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(T) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(U) 25 He jammed[a] 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(V) for them against Egypt.”(W)
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.(X) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(Y) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(Z) Not one of them survived.(AA)
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AB) with a wall(AC) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(AD) 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(AE) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(AF) the Lord and put their trust(AG) in him and in Moses his servant.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(AH) to the Lord:
“I will sing(AI) to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(AJ)
he has hurled into the sea.(AK)
2 “The Lord is my strength(AL) and my defense[c];
he has become my salvation.(AM)
He is my God,(AN) and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt(AO) him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;(AP)
the Lord is his name.(AQ)
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(AR)
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.[d]
5 The deep waters(AS) have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(AT)
6 Your right hand,(AU) Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(AV) Lord,
shattered(AW) the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty(AX)
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(AY)
it consumed(AZ) them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils(BA)
the waters piled up.(BB)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(BC)
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(BD)
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue,(BE) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(BF)
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(BG)
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.(BH)
11 Who among the gods
is like you,(BI) Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,(BJ)
awesome in glory,(BK)
working wonders?(BL)
12 “You stretch out(BM) your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.(BN)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(BO)
the people you have redeemed.(BP)
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.(BQ)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(BR)
anguish(BS) will grip the people of Philistia.(BT)
15 The chiefs(BU) of Edom(BV) will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(BW)
the people[e] of Canaan will melt(BX) away;
16 terror(BY) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone(BZ)—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought[f](CA) pass by.(CB)
17 You will bring(CC) them in and plant(CD) them
on the mountain(CE) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(CF)
the sanctuary,(CG) Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”(CH)
19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[g] went into the sea,(CI) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(CJ) 20 Then Miriam(CK) the prophet,(CL) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(CM) and dancing.(CN) 21 Miriam sang(CO) to them:
“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(CP)
he has hurled into the sea.”(CQ)
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert(CR) of Shur.(CS) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.(CT) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[h](CU)) 24 So the people grumbled(CV) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”(CW)
25 Then Moses cried out(CX) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(CY) 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.(CZ) 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(DA) all his decrees,(DB) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(DC) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(DD) you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped(DE) there near the water.
Manna and Quail
16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,(DF) which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.(DG) 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled(DH) against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!(DI) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food(DJ) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”(DK)
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven(DL) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test(DM) 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(DN) 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,(DO) 7 and in the morning you will see the glory(DP) of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling(DQ) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”(DR) 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(DS) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”(DT)
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(DU) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.(DV)
Footnotes
- Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
- Exodus 14:27 Or from
- Exodus 15:2 Or song
- Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
- Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
- Exodus 15:16 Or created
- Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
- Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.