The song of Moses

1Moses and the Israelites sang this song in praise of the LORD:15.1: Rev 15.3.

I sing praises to the LORD

for his great victory!

He has thrown the horses

and their riders

into the sea.

2The LORD is my strength,15.2: Ps 118.14; Is 12.2.

the reason for my song,

because he has saved me.

I praise and honour the LORD—

he is my God and the God

of my ancestors.

3The LORD is his name,

and he is a warrior!

4He threw the chariots and army

of Egypt's king15.4 Egypt's king: See the note at 1.11.

into the Red Sea,15.4 Red Sea: See the note at 13.18.

and he drowned the best

of the king's officers.

5They sank to the bottom

just like stones.

6With the tremendous force

of your right arm, our LORD,

you crushed your enemies.

7What a great victory was yours,

as you defeated everyone

who opposed you.

Your fiery anger wiped them out,

as though they were straw.

8You were so furious

that the sea piled up

like a wall,

and the ocean depths

curdled like cheese.

9Your enemies boasted

that they would

pursue and capture us,

divide up our possessions,

treat us as they wished,

then take out their swords

and kill us there.

10But when you got furious,

they sank like lead,

swallowed by ocean waves.

11Our LORD, no other gods

compare with you—

Majestic and holy!

Fearsome and glorious!

Miracle worker!

12When you signalled

with your right hand,

your enemies were swallowed

deep into the earth.

13The people you rescued

were led by your powerful love

to your holy place.

14Nations learnt of this

and trembled—

Philistines shook with horror.

15The leaders of Edom and of Moab

were terrified.

Everyone in Canaan fainted,

16struck down by fear.

Our LORD, your powerful arm

kept them still as a rock

until the people you rescued

for your very own

had marched by.

17You will let your people settle

on your chosen mountain,

where you built your home

and your temple.

18Our LORD, you will rule for ever!

The song of Miriam

19The LORD covered the royal Egyptian cavalry and chariots with the sea, after the Israelites had walked safely through on dry ground. 20Miriam the sister of Aaron was a prophet. So she took her tambourine and led the other women out to play their tambourines and to dance. 21Then she sang to them:

“Sing praises to the LORD

for his great victory!

He has thrown the horses

and their riders into the sea.”

Moses leads the people to Mount Sinai

Bitter water at Marah

22After the Israelites left the Red Sea,15.22 Red Sea: See the note at 13.18. Moses led them through the Shur Desert for three days, before finding water. 23They did find water at Marah, but it was bitter, which is how that place got its name.15.23 Marah…name: In Hebrew “Marah” means “bitter”. 24The people complained and said, “Moses, what are we going to drink?”

25Moses asked the LORD for help, and the LORD told him to throw a piece of wood into the water. Moses did so, and the water became fit to drink.

At Marah the LORD tested his people and also gave them some laws and teachings. 26Then he said, “I am the LORD your God, and I cure your diseases. If you obey me by doing right and by following my laws and teachings, I won't punish you with the diseases I sent on the Egyptians.”

27Later the Israelites came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees. So they camped there.