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Psalm 114 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Psalm 114[a]

The Lord’s Wonders at the Exodus

1 [b]When Israel came out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary
and Israel his domain.
3 [c]The sea fled at the sight;
the Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs of the flock.
5 [d]What causes you to flee, O sea?
Why, O Jordan, do you turn back?
6 Why do you skip like rams, O mountains,
and like lambs of the flock, O hills?
7 [e]Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,
and flint into a flowing spring.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 114:1 By reason of its literary composition and poetic inspiration, this poem constitutes a little masterpiece. Felicitously, the poet personifies, herein, the elements of nature led in a dance by God during the Exodus, to make them keen-eyed witnesses of the Lord’s triumphal march at the head of his people. Israel belongs so strongly to God that it is like his sanctuary and his domain (v. 2). On an epic and triumphal tone, the people underline the time beyond compare when God established this destiny for them: it is the great adventure of their deliverance.
    When the Lord passes by with his people, the sea and waters flee (see Ex 14:15-31; Jos 3:7-17), Sinai thunders and smokes (see Ex 19:16-18), the source springs forth in the desert rocks (see Ex 17:1-7; Num 20:1-13). These remembrances of the Exodus are like the prelude to the upheaval of the universe announcing the coming of God at the end of the earthly ages.
    We can pray this psalm in union with the Church ceaselessly meditating on and celebrating the privileged hour of her beginnings: the Passover of Christ that opens up for humankind a destiny of salvation in a new Exodus. Nature bows down before the divine Pioneer of this Exodus. The waters become calm and peaceful in the Sea of Galilee at a word from him: “Be still!” (Mk 4:39), while the mountains tremble at the moment of his Death and Resurrection (Mt 27:51; 28:2), as well as at the moment of his great interventions in history (see Rev 11:19; 16:18).
  2. Psalm 114:1 The deliverance from a foreign country was only a preamble to the greater deeds: the election of the chosen people and the making of the covenant on Sinai. Judah, the province of the tribe of that name, became the sanctuary of God and all Israel his kingdom; it was a theocracy, a priestly kingdom (see Ex 19:3-6; Jer 2:3). This was a grand event prefiguring the redemption to come and the birth of the Church.
  3. Psalm 114:3 The wonder of Israel’s election as the People of God has its effect on the world of nature. The Red Sea and the Jordan River scurry around to make way for their Creator, and the mountains and hills are all animated and agog at his majestic coming (see Pss 18:8-16; 68:8ff; 77:17-20; Jdg 5:4f; Hab 3:3-10).
  4. Psalm 114:5 The psalmist calls upon the Red Sea, the Jordan, and the mountains to bear witness to the great event when God established his kingdom on earth.
  5. Psalm 114:7 The God of Israel (Jacob) is none other than the Lord of the universe (see Ps 97:4-6; Rev 20:11). He is still providing streams of blessings for his people as he did at Kadesh, at the waters of Meribah (see Ps 107:35; Ex 17:6; Num 20:8; Deut 8:15; 1 Cor 10:4) and also at the return from the Exile, prefigured by the Exodus and Conquest (see Isa 41:15ff; 42:15; 43:20). On the symbolism of the waters, see Pss 46:2-7; 110:7.

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Psalm 114 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

114 In the going out of Israel from Egypt, The house of Jacob from a strange people, 2 Judah became His sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea hath seen, and fleeth, The Jordan turneth backward. 4 The mountains have skipped as rams, Heights as sons of a flock. 5 What -- to thee, O sea, that thou ...
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Psalm 114 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

114 Alleluia. In the going out of Israel from Egypt; of the house of Jacob from the heathen people. (Alleluia. When Israel went out from Egypt, yea, the house of Jacob from a people with a strange language;) 2 Judah was made the hallowing of him; Israel the power of him. (Judah was made the Lord’s s...
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Psalm 114 - World English Bible (WEB)

114 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language,2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.3 The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back.4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs.5 What was it, you sea, that you fled? You J...
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Psalm 114 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 1141 When the time came for Israel to leave Egypt— for Jacob’s family to be free of those who spoke another language—2 God chose to make Judah His sacred place, and Israel became His realm. 3 And the waters of the sea witnessed God’s actions and ran away; the Jordan, too, turned around and ran...
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Psalm 114 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Passover SongPsalm 1141 When Israel came out of Egypt,Jacob’s house from a people foreign-speaking,2 Judah became His Sanctuary,Israel His dominion.3 The sea saw and fled,the Jordan turned back.4 The mountains skipped like rams,the hills like lambs.5 Why was it, O sea, that you fled?O Jordan, that y...
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Psalm 114 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

God’s Wonders at the Exodus114 When Israel went forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled, Jordan turned back.4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, tha...
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Psalm 114 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God’s Wonders at the Exodus114 When Israel went forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled, Jordan turned back.4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, tha...
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Psalm 114 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 114God’s Wonders at the Exodus1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,2 Judah became God’s[a] sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why is it, O se...
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Psalm 114 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 114God’s Wonders at the Exodus1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,2 Judah became God’s[a] sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why is it, O se...
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Psalm 114 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 114God’s Wonders at the Exodus1 [a]When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,(A)2 Judah became God’s[b] sanctuary, Israel his dominion.(B)3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.(C)4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.(D)5 Wh...
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Psalm 114 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 1141 When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—2 the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. 3 The Red Sea[a] saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away.4 The mountains skipp...
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Psalm 114 - New Life Version (NLV)

God Takes Israel from Egypt114 Israel came out of Egypt. The house of Jacob came from a people who spoke a strange language. 2 Then Judah became His holy place, and Israel became the place of His rule. 3 The sea looked and ran away. The Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains jumped like sheep, the hi...
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Psalm 114 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Power of God in His Deliverance of Israel(A)114 When (B)Israel went out of Egypt,The house of Jacob (C)from a people [a]of strange language,2 (D)Judah became His sanctuary,And Israel His dominion. 3 (E)The sea saw it and fled;(F)Jordan turned back.4 (G)The mountains skipped like rams,The little ...
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Psalm 114 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 1141 When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn b...
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Psalm 114 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 1141 When Israel came out of Egypt,(A) Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,2 Judah(B) became God’s sanctuary,(C) Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled,(D) the Jordan turned back;(E)4 the mountains leaped(F) like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?(G) Why, J...
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Psalm 114 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 1141 The people of Israel came out of Egypt. The people of Jacob left a land where a different language was spoken.2 Then Judah became the holy place where God lived. Israel became the land he ruled over. 3 The Red Sea saw him and parted. The Jordan River stopped flowing.4 The mountains leaped...
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Psalm 114 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 114[a]114 When Israel left Egypt,when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind,[b]2 Judah became his sanctuary,Israel his kingdom.3 The sea looked and fled;[c]the Jordan River[d] turned back.[e]4 The mountains skipped like rams,the hills like lambs.[f]5 Why do you flee, O sea?Why do yo...
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