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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.
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.
The Lord goes into battle.
    The Lord is his name.
He has thrown Pharaoh’s chariots and army
    into the Red Sea.
Pharaoh’s best officers
    drowned in the sea.
The deep waters covered them.
    They sank to the bottom like a stone.

Lord, your right hand
    was majestic and powerful.
Lord, your right hand
    destroyed your enemies.
Because of your great majesty,
    you threw down those who opposed you.
Your burning anger blazed out.
    It burned them up like straw.
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.

“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.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

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

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

“The Lord is my strength(E) and my defense[a];
    he has become my salvation.(F)
He is my God,(G) and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt(H) him.
The Lord is a warrior;(I)
    the Lord is his name.(J)
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(K)
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[b]
The deep waters(L) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.(M)
Your right hand,(N) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(O) Lord,
    shattered(P) the enemy.

“In the greatness of your majesty(Q)
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(R)
    it consumed(S) them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils(T)
    the waters piled up.(U)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(V)
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(W)
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue,(X) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(Y)
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(Z)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.(AA)
11 Who among the gods
    is like you,(AB) Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,(AC)
awesome in glory,(AD)
    working wonders?(AE)

12 “You stretch out(AF) your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.(AG)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(AH)
    the people you have redeemed.(AI)
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.(AJ)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(AK)
    anguish(AL) will grip the people of Philistia.(AM)
15 The chiefs(AN) of Edom(AO) will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(AP)
the people[c] of Canaan will melt(AQ) away;
16     terror(AR) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone(AS)
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[d](AT) pass by.(AU)
17 You will bring(AV) them in and plant(AW) them
    on the mountain(AX) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(AY)
    the sanctuary,(AZ) Lord, your hands established.

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

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[e] went into the sea,(BB) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(BC) 20 Then Miriam(BD) the prophet,(BE) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(BF) and dancing.(BG) 21 Miriam sang(BH) to them:

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

The Waters of Marah and Elim

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

25 Then Moses cried out(BQ) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw(BR) 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.(BS) 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(BT) all his decrees,(BU) I will not bring on you any of the diseases(BV) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals(BW) you.”

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

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  2. Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
  3. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
  4. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  5. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers
  6. Exodus 15:23 Marah means bitter.