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.
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)
The Lord is a warrior;(C)
Yahweh is His name.(D)

He threw Pharaoh’s chariots
and his army into the sea;
the elite of his officers
were drowned in the Red Sea.(E)
The floods covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(F)
Lord, Your right hand is glorious in power.
Lord, Your right hand shattered the enemy.(G)
You overthrew Your adversaries
by Your great majesty.
You unleashed Your burning wrath;
it consumed them like stubble.(H)
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.
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:2 Or might
  2. Exodus 15:9 Or conquer
  3. Exodus 15:16 Or silent
  4. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  5. Exodus 15:17 Some Hb mss, DSS, Sam, Tg read Lord

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!
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.
The Lord is a warrior;
    the Lord is his name.

Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he hurled into the sea;
    his elite captains were sunk in the Reed Sea.[b]
The deep sea covered them;
    they sank into the deep waters like a stone.
Your strong hand, Lord, is dominant in power;
    your strong hand, Lord, shatters the enemy!
With your great surge you overthrow your opponents;
    you send out your hot anger; it burns them up like straw.
    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.
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!

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  2. Exodus 15:4 Or Red Sea