16 As for you, lift up your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.(A) 17 I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh, all his army, and his chariots and horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I receive glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 Then the Angel of God,(B) who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them.(C) 20 It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces. The cloud was there in the darkness, yet it lit up the night.[a] So neither group came near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided,(D) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.(E)

23 The Egyptians set out in pursuit—all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen—and went into the sea after them. 24 Then during the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire(F) and cloud, and threw them into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve[b][c] and made them drive[d] with difficulty. “Let’s get away from Israel,” the Egyptians said, “because Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt!”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots and horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, the Lord threw them into the sea.(G) 28 The waters came back and covered the chariots(H) and horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone after them into the sea. None of them survived.

29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and believed(I) in Him and in His servant Moses.

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;[e]
He has become my salvation.(J)
This is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.(K)
The Lord is a warrior;(L)
Yahweh is His name.(M)

He threw Pharaoh’s chariots
and his army into the sea;
the elite of his officers
were drowned in the Red Sea.(N)
The floods covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.(O)
Lord, Your right hand is glorious in power.
Lord, Your right hand shattered the enemy.(P)
You overthrew Your adversaries
by Your great majesty.
You unleashed Your burning wrath;
it consumed them like stubble.(Q)
The waters heaped up(R) 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.(S)
My desire will be gratified at their expense.
I will draw my sword;
my hand will destroy[f] 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,(T)
revered with praises, performing wonders?(U)
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.(V)

14 When the peoples hear, they will shudder;
anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified;(W)
trembling will seize the leaders of Moab;
the inhabitants of Canaan will panic;
16 and terror(X) and dread will fall on them.
They will be as still[g] as a stone
because of Your powerful arm
until Your people pass by, Lord,
until the people whom You purchased[h] pass by.(Y)

17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of Your possession;(Z)
Lord, You have prepared the place
for Your dwelling;
Lord,[i] Your hands have established the sanctuary.
18 The Lord will reign(AA) 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,(AB) Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with their tambourines and danced.(AC) 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.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:20 Perhaps the cloud brought darkness to the Egyptians but light to the Israelites; Ex 10:22-23; Ps 105:39.
  2. Exodus 14:25 Sam, LXX, Syr read He bound their chariot wheels
  3. Exodus 14:25 Or fall off
  4. Exodus 14:25 Or and they drove them
  5. Exodus 15:2 Or might
  6. Exodus 15:9 Or conquer
  7. Exodus 15:16 Or silent
  8. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  9. Exodus 15:17 Some Hb mss, DSS, Sam, Tg read Lord

16 Raise your staff(A) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(B) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(C) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(D) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(E) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God,(F) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(G) also moved from in front and stood behind(H) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(I) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand(J) over the sea,(K) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(L) and turned it into dry land.(M) The waters were divided,(N) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(O) on dry ground,(P) with a wall(Q) of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(R) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(S) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(T) 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting(U) for them against Egypt.”(V)

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.(W) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(X) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(Y) Not one of them survived.(Z)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(AA) with a wall(AB) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(AC) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(AD) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(AE) the Lord and put their trust(AF) in him and in Moses his servant.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

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

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

“The Lord is my strength(AK) and my defense[c];
    he has become my salvation.(AL)
He is my God,(AM) and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt(AN) him.
The Lord is a warrior;(AO)
    the Lord is his name.(AP)
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(AQ)
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[d]
The deep waters(AR) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.(AS)
Your right hand,(AT) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(AU) Lord,
    shattered(AV) the enemy.

“In the greatness of your majesty(AW)
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(AX)
    it consumed(AY) them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils(AZ)
    the waters piled up.(BA)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(BB)
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(BC)
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue,(BD) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(BE)
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(BF)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.(BG)
11 Who among the gods
    is like you,(BH) Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,(BI)
awesome in glory,(BJ)
    working wonders?(BK)

12 “You stretch out(BL) your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.(BM)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(BN)
    the people you have redeemed.(BO)
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.(BP)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(BQ)
    anguish(BR) will grip the people of Philistia.(BS)
15 The chiefs(BT) of Edom(BU) will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(BV)
the people[e] of Canaan will melt(BW) away;
16     terror(BX) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone(BY)
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[f](BZ) pass by.(CA)
17 You will bring(CB) them in and plant(CC) them
    on the mountain(CD) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(CE)
    the sanctuary,(CF) Lord, your hands established.

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

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[g] went into the sea,(CH) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(CI) 20 Then Miriam(CJ) the prophet,(CK) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(CL) and dancing.(CM) 21 Miriam sang(CN) to them:

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

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  2. Exodus 14:27 Or from
  3. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  4. Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
  5. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
  6. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  7. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers