Easter - Exodus 15

Back to translation for a bit I hope. Finding time has been impossible while writing a book and preparing presentations. But these are done and can stew for a while. I don't know what is going on with my blog these days. The stats are confusing. On all my posts I have 5 to 10 times the number of readers compared to last year. But my alexa rating has increased (means less traffic) from c 300,000 to 700,000. These two stats are conflicting.

Hey readers, accidental or not. Make a comment. Criticize these translations. Make me think. I translate too literally, but in order to have something to work with as an English lyric for the music. Exodus 15 is of course a song. And also a locus of the first complaints of freedom.

Note well - Easter signifies that the work of Christ Jesus was successfully completed. In the down up pattern of the Scripture, we are past the Passover (Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast.) and we are past the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1) but we have just begun. We do not want to be like those who failed to please God and whose corpses littered the desert (1 Corinthians 10:5). We have the work of obedience to do ourselves. By all means sing the song of the sea. But learn too and not just by memorizing lessons, though that is a start. Sometimes lessons memorized are filled with the prejudice of our culture.

The first downer begins in this chapter, but eventually after their escape, they do find a home. So may each of us find through the wilderness of learning our own obedience to the death of Jesus, and the redemption that is effected through the blood of the Lamb or the doorpost of our house. (There's a lot of incarnational metaphor in that sentence.)

A hint. Such obedience leads to life for us and for all who are near us, both physical propinquity and electronic. Things we would not have imagined worked in a new continuing creation in which we are not alone. His death is 'for the life of the world'. Our 'death in him' is an act of faith that gives life to our own mortal bodies. We can put aside by his emptiness the things that destroy, and in his fullness we will learn a real healing (verse 26) - not just in an imagined future but also now in the present, in the presence of the One who is the Author of life. Imagine then you are even Pharaoh and his host, you are the ones covered over, cast into the sea but instructed by the sea, and you also are pulled from the waters and given a life - in the wilderness(?) Let us learn to walk. Let us learn to love. With the Holy One of Israel.

Enough - let's read this odd translation and look at the music. (And laugh a little. Christ is risen.)

Exodus 15		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אָשִׁ֤ירָה לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם	1	B	Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this particular song to Yahweh and they said, saying, I will sing to Yahweh, for pride is proud. Horse and its rider he has deceived in the sea.	3e	4C	23 17
עָזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֔הּ וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָ֑ה זֶ֤ה אֵלִי֙ וְאַנְוֵ֔הוּ אֱלֹהֵ֥י אָבִ֖י וַאֲרֹמְמֶֽנְהוּ	2		Yah is my strength and psalm and has become my salvation. This is my God. I will make him a home, the God of my father, and I will celebrate him.	3e	4C	12 17
יְהוָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יְהוָ֖ה שְׁמֽוֹ	3		Yahweh is a warrior, Yahweh is his name.	3e	4B	6 4
מַרְכְּבֹ֥ת פַּרְעֹ֛ה וְחֵיל֖וֹ יָרָ֣ה בַיָּ֑ם וּמִבְחַ֥ר שָֽׁלִשָׁ֖יו טֻבְּע֥וּ בְיַם־סֽוּף	4		The chariots of Pharaoh and his force were instructed in the sea, and his chosen third were sunk in the sea of reeds.	3d	4B	12 11
תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ בִמְצוֹלֹ֖ת כְּמוֹ־אָֽבֶן	5		Abysses have covered them. They descend into the depths as a stone.	3e	4A	7 8
יְמִֽינְךָ֣ יְהוָ֔ה נֶאְדָּרִ֖י בַּכֹּ֑חַ יְמִֽינְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה תִּרְעַ֥ץ אוֹיֵֽב	6		Your right hand, Yahweh, is majestic in power. Your right hand, Yahweh, scuttles an enemy.	3e	4B	11 9
וּבְרֹ֥ב גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֣ס קָמֶ֑יךָ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ חֲרֹ֣נְךָ֔ יֹאכְלֵ֖מוֹ כַּקַּֽשׁ	7		And in the abundance of your pride you have overthrown those who arise over you. You set loose your ferocity and it devoured them as stubble.	3e	4B	11 11
וּבְר֤וּחַ אַפֶּ֙יךָ֙ נֶ֣עֶרְמוּ מַ֔יִם נִצְּב֥וּ כְמוֹ־נֵ֖ד נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב־יָֽם	8		And in the wind of of your nostrils, waters were piled up. Flows stood firm as a heap. The abysses were congealed into the heart of the sea.	3e	4C	17 8
אָמַ֥ר אוֹיֵ֛ב אֶרְדֹּ֥ף אַשִּׂ֖יג אֲחַלֵּ֣ק שָׁלָ֑ל תִּמְלָאֵ֣מוֹ נַפְשִׁ֔י אָרִ֣יק חַרְבִּ֔י תּוֹרִישֵׁ֖מוֹ יָדִֽי	9		An enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my being will be full. I will do away with my sword. My hand will possess them.	3d	4B	13 16
נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ בְרוּחֲךָ֖ כִּסָּ֣מוֹ יָ֑ם צָֽלֲלוּ֙ כַּֽעוֹפֶ֔רֶת בְּמַ֖יִם אַדִּירִֽים	10		You blew at twilight with your wind. The sea covered them. They submerged as lead in the majestic waters.	3e	4B	11 12
מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהוָ֔ה מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא	11		Who is like you among the gods, Yahweh? Who is like you majestic in holiness, to be feared in praises doing a wonder?	3e	4C	17 9
נָטִ֙יתָ֙ יְמִ֣ינְךָ֔ תִּבְלָעֵ֖מוֹ אָֽרֶץ	12		You stretched out your right hand. You swallowed earth.	3e	4B	12
נָחִ֥יתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ֖ עַם־ז֣וּ גָּאָ֑לְתָּ נֵהַ֥לְתָּ בְעָזְּךָ֖ אֶל־נְוֵ֥ה קָדְשֶֽׁךָ	13		You guided in your kindness this people that you redeemed. You refreshed in your strength to your holy home.	3e	4B	12 12
שָֽׁמְע֥וּ עַמִּ֖ים יִרְגָּז֑וּן חִ֣יל אָחַ֔ז יֹשְׁבֵ֖י פְּלָֽשֶׁת	14		The peoples hear and shudder. Force holds fast the inhabitants of Philistia.	3e	4B	7 8
אָ֤ז נִבְהֲלוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם אֵילֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב יֹֽאחֲזֵ֖מוֹ רָ֑עַד נָמֹ֕גוּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י כְנָֽעַן	15	C	Then vexed are the captains of Edom. The potentates of Moab, trembling will hold them fast. All the inhabitants of Canaan will soften.	3e	4C	19 9
תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙ וָפַ֔חַד בִּגְדֹ֥ל זְרוֹעֲךָ֖ יִדְּמ֣וּ כָּאָ֑בֶן עַד־יַעֲבֹ֤ר עַמְּךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה עַֽד־יַעֲבֹ֖ר עַם־ז֥וּ קָנִֽיתָ	16		Horror and dread will fall on them by the greatness of your arm. They will be mute as a stone, till your people have passed through, Yahweh, till have passed through, this people that you purchased.	3e	4C	22 17
תְּבִאֵ֗מוֹ וְתִטָּעֵ֙מוֹ֙ בְּהַ֣ר נַחֲלָֽתְךָ֔ מָכ֧וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ פָּעַ֖לְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה מִקְּדָ֕שׁ אֲדֹנָ֖י כּוֹנְנ֥וּ יָדֶֽיךָ	17		You will bring them and plant them on the hill, your legacy, established as your seat, the work of Yahweh. A sanctuary, my Lord, your hands prepare.	3c	4B	26 10
יְהוָ֥ה ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד	18		Yahweh will reign forever and ever.	3e	3g	9
כִּ֣י בָא֩ ס֨וּס פַּרְעֹ֜ה בְּרִכְבּ֤וֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו֙ בַּיָּ֔ם וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת־מֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָלְכ֥וּ בַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּֽם פ	19	B	For the horse of Pharaoh entered with his chariots and his cavaliers into the sea and Yahweh turned over them the waters of the sea, and the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.	3c	4C	26 16
וַתִּקַּח֩ מִרְיָ֨ם הַנְּבִיאָ֜ה אֲח֧וֹת אַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶת־הַתֹּ֖ף בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַתֵּצֶ֤אןָ כָֽל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יהָ בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת	20		And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women came out following her with timbrels and with dances.	3c	4C	19 19
וַתַּ֥עַן לָהֶ֖ם מִרְיָ֑ם שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־גָאֹ֣ה גָּאָ֔ה ס֥וּס וְרֹכְב֖וֹ רָמָ֥ה בַיָּֽם ס	21		And Miriam answered for them, Sing to Yahweh, for pride is proud. Horse and its rider he has deceived in the sea.	3e	4C	7 17
וַיַּסַּ֨ע מֹשֶׁ֤ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּם־ס֔וּף וַיֵּצְא֖וּ אֶל־מִדְבַּר־שׁ֑וּר וַיֵּלְכ֧וּ שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־יָמִ֛ים בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְלֹא־מָ֥צְאוּ מָֽיִם	22		So Moses migrated Israel from the sea of reeds and they went forth to a wilderness, a barrier. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.	3c	4C	19 17
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ מָרָ֔תָה וְלֹ֣א יָֽכְל֗וּ לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת מַ֙יִם֙ מִמָּרָ֔ה כִּ֥י מָרִ֖ים הֵ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמָ֖הּ מָרָֽה	23		And when they came to Marah and they were not able to imbibe the water at Marah for they were bitter, therefore he called its name Marah.	3e	4B	20 8
וַיִּלֹּ֧נוּ הָעָ֛ם עַל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹ֖ר מַה־נִּשְׁתֶּֽה	24		And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, What will we imbibe?	3c	3g	14
וַיִּצְעַ֣ק אֶל־יְהוָ֗ה וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּ יְהוָה֙ עֵ֔ץ וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ֙ אֶל־הַמַּ֔יִם וַֽיִּמְתְּק֖וּ הַמָּ֑יִם שָׁ֣ם שָׂ֥ם ל֛וֹ חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְשָׁ֥ם נִסָּֽהוּ	25		And he cried out to Yahweh and Yahweh instructed him through a tree that he flung to the waters and the waters became sweet. There he set his statute and judgment and there he proved him.	3d	4C	26 12
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אִם־שָׁמ֨וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַ֜ע לְק֣וֹל ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ וְהַיָּשָׁ֤ר בְּעֵינָיו֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְהַֽאֲזַנְתָּ֙ לְמִצְוֺתָ֔יו וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֖ כָּל־חֻקָּ֑יו כָּֽל־הַמַּֽחֲלָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־שַׂ֤מְתִּי בְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹא־אָשִׂ֣ים עָלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה רֹפְאֶֽךָ ס	26		And said, If to hear, you hear the voice of Yahweh your God and you will do what is upright in his eyes and will give ear to his commandments and you will keep all his statutes, all the illnesses that I defined in Egypt I will not set upon you, for I am Yahweh who heals you.	3d	4C	43 26
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֵילִ֔מָה וְשָׁ֗ם שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֛ה עֵינֹ֥ת מַ֖יִם וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים תְּמָרִ֑ים וַיַּחֲנוּ־שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַמָּֽיִם	27		And they came to Elim and there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. And they camped there by the waters.	3d	4B	21 9