Exodus 15

New International Version

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)

²“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.
³The Lord is a warrior;^(I)
    the Lord is his name.^(J)
⁴Pharaoh’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]
⁵The deep waters^(L) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.^(M)
⁶Your right hand,^(N) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,^(O) Lord,
    shattered^(P) the enemy.

⁷“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.
⁸By 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)
⁹The 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.’
¹⁰But you blew with your breath,^(Z)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.^(AA)
¹¹Who 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)
¹³In 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)
¹⁴The nations will hear and tremble;^(AK)
    anguish^(AL) will grip the people of Philistia.^(AM)
¹⁵The 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)
¹⁷You 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)

¹⁹When 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) ²⁰Then 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) ²¹Miriam 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

²²Then 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) ²³When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.^[f]^(BN)) ²⁴So the people grumbled^(BO) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”^(BP)

²⁵Then 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) 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^(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.”