The song of Moses and Miriam

1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

‘I will sing to the Lord,

for he is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver

he has hurled into the sea.

2‘The Lord is my strength and my defence15:2 Or song;

he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3The Lord is a warrior;

the Lord is his name.

4Pharaoh’s chariots and his army

he has hurled into the sea.

The best of Pharaoh’s officers

are drowned in the Red Sea.15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22

5The deep waters have covered them;

they sank to the depths like a stone.

6Your right hand, Lord,

was majestic in power.

Your right hand, Lord,

shattered the enemy.

7‘In the greatness of your majesty

you threw down those who opposed you.

You unleashed your burning anger;

it consumed them like stubble.

8By the blast of your nostrils

the waters piled up.

The surging waters stood up like a wall;

the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

9The enemy boasted,

“I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils;

I will gorge myself on them.

I will draw my sword

and my hand will destroy them.”

10But you blew with your breath,

and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

11Who among the gods

is like you, Lord?

Who is like you –

majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory,

working wonders?

12‘You stretch out your right hand,

and the earth swallows your enemies.

13In your unfailing love you will lead

the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them

to your holy dwelling.

14The nations will hear and tremble;

anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

15The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,

the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,

the people15:15 Or rulers of Canaan will melt away;

16terror and dread will fall on them.

By the power of your arm

they will be as still as a stone –

until your people pass by, Lord,

until the people you bought15:16 Or created pass by.

17You will bring them in and plant them

on the mountain of your inheritance –

the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,

the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

18‘The Lord reigns

for ever and ever.’

19When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen15:19 Or charioteers 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. 20Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21Miriam sang to them:

‘Sing to the Lord,

for he is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver

he has hurled into the sea.’

The waters of Marah and Elim

22Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they travelled in the desert without finding water. 23When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.15:23 Marah means bitter.) 24So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’

25Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw 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. 26He 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 all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.’

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