Bible Society of South Africa
Church Lectionary

Season after Pentecost: Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and PsalmAlternate first reading and PsalmSecond readingGospel

First reading and Psalm

19The angel of God, who had been in front of the army of Israel, moved and went to the rear. The pillar of cloud also moved until it was 20between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The cloud made it dark for the Egyptians, but gave light to the people of Israel, and so the armies could not come near each other all night.

21Moses held out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind. It blew all night and turned the sea into dry land. The water was divided, 22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides. 23The Egyptians pursued them and went after them into the sea with all their horses, chariots, and drivers. 24Just before dawn the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. 25He made the wheels of their chariots get stuck, so that they moved with great difficulty. The Egyptians said, “The LORD is fighting for the Israelites against us. Let's get out of here!”

26The LORD said to Moses, “Hold out your hand over the sea, and the water will come back over the Egyptians and their chariots and drivers.” 27So Moses held out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the water returned to its normal level. The Egyptians tried to escape from the water, but the LORD threw them into the sea. 28The water returned and covered the chariots, the drivers, and all the Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea; not one of them was left. 29But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides.

30On that day the LORD saved the people of Israel from the Egyptians, and the Israelites saw them lying dead on the seashore. 31When the Israelites saw the great power with which the LORD had defeated the Egyptians, they stood in awe of the LORD; and they had faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 14:19-31GNBOpen in Bible reader

A Passover Song

1When the people of Israel left Egypt,

when Jacob's descendants left that foreign land,

2Judah became the Lord's holy people,

Israel became his own possession.

3The Red Sea looked and ran away;

the River Jordan stopped flowing.

4The mountains skipped like goats;

the hills jumped about like lambs.

5What happened, Sea, to make you run away?

And you, O Jordan, why did you stop flowing?

6You mountains, why did you skip like goats?

You hills, why did you jump about like lambs?

7Tremble, earth, at the Lord's coming,

at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8who changes rocks into pools of water

and solid cliffs into flowing springs.

Psalms 114:1-8GNBOpen in Bible reader

The Song of Moses

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

“I will sing to the LORD, because he has won a glorious victory;

he has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea.

2The LORD is my strong defender;

he is the one who has saved me.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

my father's God, and I will sing about his greatness.

3The LORD is a warrior;

the LORD is his name.

4“He threw Egypt's army and its chariots into the sea;

the best of its officers were drowned in the Red Sea.

5The deep sea covered them;

they sank to the bottom like a stone.

6“Your right hand, LORD, is awesome in power;

it breaks the enemy in pieces.

7In majestic triumph you overthrow your foes;

your anger blazes out and burns them up like straw.

8You blew on the sea and the water piled up high;

it stood up straight like a wall;

the deepest part of the sea became solid.

9The enemy said, ‘I will pursue them and catch them;

I will divide their wealth and take all I want;

I will draw my sword and take all they have.’

10But one breath from you, LORD, and the Egyptians were drowned;

they sank like lead in the terrible water.

11“LORD, who among the gods is like you?

Who is like you, wonderful in holiness?

Who can work miracles and mighty acts like yours?

Exodus 15:1-11GNBOpen in Bible reader

20The prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took her tambourine, and all the women followed her, playing tambourines and dancing. 21Miriam sang for them:

“Sing to the LORD, because he has won a glorious victory;

he has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea.”

Exodus 15:20-21GNBOpen in Bible reader
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