Add parallel Print Page Options

Bitter Water Made Sweet

22 Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea,[a] and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.(A) 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah.[b](B) 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”(C) 25 He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord[c] made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he put them to the test.(D) 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”(E)

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 15.22 Or Sea of Reeds
  2. 15.23 That is, bitterness
  3. 15.25 Heb he

God Provides Water for the People

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Reed[a] Sea and they went to the desert of Shur. They traveled into the desert for three days and did not find water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter. (That is why it’s called[b] Marah.)[c] 24 Then the people complained against Moses: “What are we to drink?” 25 Moses[d] cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which he threw into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord[e] presented to them a statute and an ordinance, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you will carefully obey the Lord your God, do what he sees to be right, listen to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then I won’t inflict on you all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians, because I am the Lord your healer.” 27 Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and 70 palm trees, and they camped there by the water.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:22 So MT; LXX reads Red
  2. Exodus 15:23 Lit. why one calls its name
  3. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter in Heb.
  4. Exodus 15:25 Lit. He
  5. Exodus 15:25 Lit. he