On that day,¹⁵⁹ Adonoy delivered

footnotes: ¹⁵⁹ Even though they had been free a week earlier, they were insecure, fearing that the Egyptians would capture and re-enslave them. Only when Hashem had drowned the Egyptians were the Yisraelites free psychologically.—Seporno

Yisrael from the hand of Mitzrayim,

and Yisrael saw the Mitzriyim

dead on the seashore.

And Yisrael saw

the great hand¹⁶⁰

footnotes: ¹⁶⁰ The use of the word “hand” or any physical attribute with regard to Hashem is merely metaphorical, since Hashem is in no way physical.

which Adonoy wielded against Mitzrayim,

and the people feared Adonoy,

and they believed in Adonoy,

and that Moshe was His servant.

Then Moshe and the Children of Yisrael sang

this song to Adonoy,

and they said:

I will sing to Adonoy for He is most high;¹⁶¹

footnotes: ¹⁶¹ When people praise a mortal, they often declare undeserved praise. But Hashem is so great that any praise we offer is insufficient.—Rashi

the horse with its rider, He threw into the sea.

The strength and retribution of God

was the cause of my deliverance;¹⁶²

footnotes: ¹⁶² This translation follows Rashi’s commentary.

this is my Almighty and I will glorify Him,

God of my father and I will exalt Him.

Adonoy is master of war

Adonoy is His Name.

Pharaoh’s chariots and army,

He hurled into the sea;

and his elite officers were drowned

in the Sea of Reeds.

The deep waters covered them;

they descended into the depths like stone.

Your right hand Adonoy

is adorned with power,

Your right hand Adonoy crushes the enemy.

And in Your great majesty,

You destroyed Your opponents;

You sent forth Your fury,

it consumed them like straw.¹⁶³

footnotes: ¹⁶³ This verse is also translated, “You will send forth Your fury: it will consume them like straw.” According to the Zohar it thus refers to the time of the Resurrection, when Hashem will destroy all the wicked.

And with the wind from Your nostrils

the waters were heaped up,

flowing water stood erect like a wall;

the deep waters congealed

in the heart of the sea.¹⁶⁴

footnotes: ¹⁶⁴ The water became hard as stone and the Egyptians were hurled against it with great force.—Rashi

The enemy (Pharaoh) said:

“I will pursue [them], I will overtake [them],

I will divide the spoils; I will satisfy myself;

I will unsheathe my sword,

my hand will destroy them.

You blew with Your wind,

the sea covered them;

they sank like lead in the mighty waters.¹⁶⁵

footnotes: ¹⁶⁵ Seporno and others interpret the verse to read: “They, the mighty, sank like lead in the waters,” “mighty,” referring to the Egyptian officers rather than to the waters.

Who is like You among the mighty, Adonoy!

who is like You?

[You are] adorned in holiness,

awesome in praise, performing wonders.¹⁶⁶

footnotes: ¹⁶⁶ Hashem is “awesome in praise” for we fear that all our praise will prove inadequate. In truth, it is impossible to praise Hashem fully, and Dovid therefore said (Tehillim 65:2) “For You, silence is praise.”—Rashi

You stretched out Your right hand,

the earth swallowed them.

You led in Your kindliness,

the people whom You redeemed;

You guided them with Your might

to Your holy dwelling place.

The peoples heard and trembled,

pangs of fear gripped

the inhabitants of Philistia.¹⁶⁷

footnotes: ¹⁶⁷ The Philistines had killed the Ephraimites thirty years earlier when they left Egypt by force. The Philistines were thus gripped with terror when they heard that Yisrael had escaped from Egypt.—Rashi

Then the chieftains of Edom panicked,

the mighty men of Moab

were seized with trembling,

all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.¹⁶⁸

footnotes: ¹⁶⁸ Nations on all sides panicked: The Philistines to the west, the Edomites to the south, the Moavites to the east and the Canaanites to the north. The Philistines feared revenge. The Edomites panicked because they feared that Yisrael would now seek revenge for what Esau (Edom) had done to Yaakov. The Moavites, the descendants of Lot, feared they would be punished because of the dispute between Lot and Avraham (Bereishis 13:7). Canaan “melted away” because they realized that Yisrael was destined to take their land, and their astrologers told them that there was no way out.—Rabbainu Bachyah

Terror and dread fall upon them;

at the greatness of Your arm

they were still as stone;

until Your people cross over, Adonoy,

until [they] cross over,¹⁶⁹

footnotes: ¹⁶⁹ The two crossings are the respective crossings of the Arnon and the Yardein rivers before entering the Promised Land.—Onkelos

—the people You have acquired.

You will bring them and plant them¹⁷⁰

footnotes: ¹⁷⁰ Moshe here prophesied that he would not be entering the Promised Land, and he therefore prayed that Hashem should bring the Jews into His inheritance.—Rashi

on the mountain of Your inheritance,

the place for Your habitation

which You, Adonoy, have made;

the Sanctuary, my Master,

[which] Your hands established.¹⁷¹

footnotes: ¹⁷¹ Hashem’s “habitat” on earth, the Holy Temple, is a parallel of the Holy Temple on high.—Rashi

Adonoy will reign forever and ever.

Adonoy will reign forever and ever.¹⁷²

footnotes: ¹⁷² This verse is not repeated in Shemos. But it is repeated in prayer to signify the end of the Ode, just as the last verse of Tehillim 150 is repeated in the prayer whereas it is not repeated in the Tehillim.—Avudraham

Adonoy! His sovereignty is established

forever and to all eternity.¹⁷³

footnotes: ¹⁷³ This verse is a paraphrase of the previous verse as found in Targum Onkelos.

When Pharaoh’s horses, with his chariots,

and his horsemen, went into the sea,

Adonoy turned back on them

the waters of the sea;

and the Children of Yisrael

walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.¹⁷⁴

footnotes: ¹⁷⁴ Shemos 14:30-15:19.

For the kingship is Adonoy’s

and He rules over nations.¹⁷⁵

footnotes: ¹⁷⁵ Tehillim 22:29. The word “king” signifies one whose leadership is accepted freely by all his subjects. Therefore, in reference to Yisrael who willingly accept the Kingship of Hashem, it says, “For the kingship is Adonoy’s.” A “ruler,” however, is one who forcibly rules people, without their consent. Regarding the nations who do not willingly submit to Adonoy’s Kingship, the Psalmist says, “And He rules over nations.”—Gaon of Vilna

And deliverers will go up to Mount Tziyon

to judge the mount of Esav,

and the kingdom will be Adonoy’s.¹⁷⁶

footnotes: ¹⁷⁶ Ovadyah 1:21.

And Adonoy will be King

over the whole earth;

on that day

Adonoy will be One and His Name One.¹⁷⁷

footnotes: ¹⁷⁷ Zecharyah 14:9. In the future, Hashem will be recognized by all the nations of the world who will accept Him willingly as their King.