Exodus 15
New International Reader's Version
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Here is the song that Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord. They said,
“I will sing to the Lord.
He is greatly honored.
He has thrown Pharaoh’s horses and chariot drivers
into the Red Sea.
2 The Lord gives me strength and protects me.
He has saved me.
He is my God, I will praise him.
He is my father’s God, and I will honor him.
3 The Lord goes into battle.
The Lord is his name.
4 He has thrown Pharaoh’s chariots and army
into the Red Sea.
Pharaoh’s best officers
drowned in the sea.
5 The deep waters covered them.
They sank to the bottom like a stone.
6 “Lord, your right hand
was majestic and powerful.
Lord, your right hand
destroyed your enemies.
7 Because of your great majesty,
you threw down those who opposed you.
Your burning anger blazed out.
It burned them up like straw.
8 The powerful blast from your nose
piled up the waters.
The rushing waters stood firm like a wall.
The deep waters stood up in the middle of the sea.
9 “Your enemies bragged,
‘We will chase Israel and will catch them.
We’ll divide up what we take from them.
We’ll eat them alive.
We’ll pull our swords out.
Our powerful hands will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath.
The Red Sea covered your enemies.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 “Lord, who among the gods is like you?
Who is like you?
You are majestic and holy.
Your glory fills me with wonder.
You do amazing things.
12 You reach out your right hand.
The earth swallows up your enemies.
13 “Because your love is faithful,
you will lead the people you have set free.
Because you are so strong,
you will guide them to the holy place where you live.
14 The nations will hear about it and tremble.
Pain and suffering will take hold of the Philistines.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified.
The leaders of Moab will tremble with fear.
The people of Canaan will melt away.
16 Fear and terror will fall on them.
Your powerful arm
will make them as still as a stone.
Then your people will pass by, Lord.
Then the people you created will pass by.
17 You will bring them in.
You will plant them on the mountain you gave them.
Lord, you have made that place your home.
Lord, your hands have made your holy place secure.
18 “The Lord rules
for ever and ever.”
19 Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the Red Sea. The Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Aaron’s sister Miriam was a prophet. She took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her. They played tambourines and danced. 21 Miriam sang to them,
“Sing to the Lord.
He is greatly honored.
He has thrown Pharaoh’s horses and chariot drivers
into the Red Sea.”
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea. They went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert. They didn’t find any water there. 23 When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink its water. It was bitter. That’s why the place is named Marah. 24 The people told Moses they weren’t happy with him. They said, “What are we supposed to drink?”
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord showed him a stick. Moses threw it into the water. The water became fit to drink.
There the Lord gave a ruling and instruction for the people. And there he tested them. 26 He said, “I am the Lord your God. Listen carefully to me. Do what is right in my eyes. Pay attention to my commands. Obey all my rules. If you do, I will not send on you any of the sicknesses I sent on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you.”
27 The people came to Elim. It had 12 springs and 70 palm trees. They camped there near the water.
Exodus 15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Israel’s Song
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:
I will sing to the Lord,
for He is highly exalted;
He has thrown the horse
and its rider into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song;[a]
He has become my salvation.(A)
This is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.(B)
3 The Lord is a warrior;(C)
Yahweh is His name.(D)
4 He threw Pharaoh’s chariots
and his army into the sea;
the elite of his officers
were drowned in the Red Sea.(E)
5 The floods covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(F)
6 Lord, Your right hand is glorious in power.
Lord, Your right hand shattered the enemy.(G)
7 You overthrew Your adversaries
by Your great majesty.
You unleashed Your burning wrath;
it consumed them like stubble.(H)
8 The waters heaped up(I) at the blast of Your nostrils;
the currents stood firm like a dam.
The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said:
“I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil.(J)
My desire will be gratified at their expense.
I will draw my sword;
my hand will destroy[b] them.”
10 But You blew with Your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Lord, who is like You among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,(K)
revered with praises, performing wonders?(L)
12 You stretched out Your right hand,
and the earth swallowed them.
13 You will lead the people
You have redeemed
with Your faithful love;
You will guide them to Your holy dwelling
with Your strength.(M)
14 When the peoples hear, they will shudder;
anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified;(N)
trembling will seize the leaders of Moab;
the inhabitants of Canaan will panic;
16 and terror(O) and dread will fall on them.
They will be as still[c] as a stone
because of Your powerful arm
until Your people pass by, Lord,
until the people whom You purchased[d] pass by.(P)
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of Your possession;(Q)
Lord, You have prepared the place
for Your dwelling;
Lord,[e] Your hands have established the sanctuary.
18 The Lord will reign(R) forever and ever!
19 When Pharaoh’s horses with his chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess,(S) Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with their tambourines and danced.(T) 21 Miriam sang to them:
Sing to the Lord,
for He is highly exalted;
He has thrown the horse
and its rider into the sea.
Water Provided
22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. 23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah.[f] 24 The people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?”(U) 25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable.
He made a statute and ordinance for them at Marah and He tested them there.(V) 26 He said, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what is right in His eyes, pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, I will not inflict any illnesses on you that I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am Yahweh who heals you.”(W)
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were 12 springs of water and 70 date palms, and they camped there by the waters.
Footnotes
- Exodus 15:2 Or might
- Exodus 15:9 Or conquer
- Exodus 15:16 Or silent
- Exodus 15:16 Or created
- Exodus 15:17 Some Hb mss, DSS, Sam, Tg read Lord
- Exodus 15:23 = bitter or bitterness
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