The Egyptians followed in pursuit after them—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen—into the midst of the sea.

But during the watch just before dawn, the Lord looked down from a column of fiery cloud upon the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could drive only with difficulty. With that the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Then the Lord spoke to Moses: Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their horsemen.

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal flow. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward it when the Lord cast the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.

As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the horsemen. Of all Pharaoh’s army which had followed the Israelites into the sea, not even one escaped.

But the Israelites had walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water as a wall to their right and to their left.

Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day from the power of Egypt. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and saw the great power that the Lord had shown against Egypt, the people feared the Lord. They believed in the Lord and in Moses his servant.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:I will sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

My strength and my refuge is the Lord, and he has become my savior. This is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him.

The Lord is a warrior, Lord is his name!

Pharaoh’s chariots and army he hurled into the sea; the elite of his officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

The flood waters covered them, they sank into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, magnificent in power, your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.

In your great majesty you overthrew your adversaries; you loosed your wrath to consume them like stubble.

At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters foamed in the midst of the sea.

The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them; I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them; I will draw my sword; my hand will despoil them!”

When you blew with your breath, the sea covered them; like lead they sank in the mighty waters.

Who is like you among the gods, O Lord? Who is like you, magnificent among the holy ones? Awe-inspiring in deeds of renown, worker of wonders, when you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!

In your love you led the people you redeemed; in your strength you guided them to your holy dwelling.

The peoples heard and quaked; anguish gripped the dwellers in Philistia.

Then were the chieftains of Edom dismayed, the nobles of Moab seized by trembling; All the inhabitants of Canaan melted away; terror and dread fell upon them. By the might of your arm they became silent like stone, while your people, Lord, passed over, while the people whom you created passed over.

You brought them in, you planted them on the mountain that is your own— The place you made the base of your throne, Lord, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

May the Lord reign forever and ever!

When Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen entered the sea, the Lord made the waters of the sea flow back upon them, though the Israelites walked on dry land through the midst of the sea.

Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, while all the women went out after her with tambourines, dancing; and she responded to them: Sing to the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.