24 The phrase “the blast of your nostrils” is a bold anthropomorphic expression for the wind that came in and dried up the water.
25 The word “heap” describes the walls of water. The waters, which are naturally fluid, stood up as though they were a heap, a mound of earth. Likewise, the flowing waters deep in the ocean solidified—as though they were turned to ice (U. Cassuto, Exodus, ).
26 W. C. Kaiser observes the staccato phrases that almost imitate the heavy, breathless heaving of the Egyptians as, with what reserve of strength they have left, they vow, “I will …, I will …, I will …” (“Exodus,” 2:).
27 The form is נַפְשִׁי (nafshi, “my soul”). But this word refers to the whole person, the body and the soul, or better, a bundle of appetites in a body. It therefore can figuratively refer to the desires or appetites (Deut 12:15; 14:26; 23:24). Here, with the verb “to be full” means “to be satisfied”; the whole expression might indicate “I will be sated with them” or “I will gorge myself.” The greedy appetite was to destroy.
28 The verb רִיק (riq) means “to be empty” in the Qal, and in the Hiphil “to empty.” Here the idea is to unsheathe a sword.
29 The verb is יָרַשׁ (yarash), which in the Hiphil means “to dispossess” or “root out.” The meaning “destroy” is a general interpretation.
30 “But” has been supplied here.
31 Here “and” has been supplied.
32 The verb may have the idea of sinking with a gurgling sound, like water going into a whirlpool (R. A. Cole, Exodus [], ; S. R. Driver, Exodus, ). See F. M. Cross and D. N. Freedman, “The Song of Miriam,” 14 (1955): 243–47.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;

the floods stood up in a heap;

the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.

I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’

You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;

they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

By the blast of your nostrils

the waters piled up.

The surging waters stood up like a wall;

the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy boasted,

‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils;

I will gorge myself on them.

I will draw my sword

and my hand will destroy them.’

But you blew with your breath,

and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The water heaped up at the blast from your nostrils;

the currents stood firm like a dam.

The watery depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said:

“I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil.

My desire will be gratified at their expense.

I will draw my sword;

my hand will destroy them.”

But you blew with your breath,

and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

NLTNew Living Translation

At the blast of your breath,

the waters piled up!

The surging waters stood straight like a wall;

in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.

“The enemy boasted, ‘I will chase them

and catch up with them.

I will plunder them

and consume them.

I will flash my sword;

my powerful hand will destroy them.’

But you blew with your breath,

and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

in the mighty waters.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And by the breath of your nostrils waters were piled up;

waves stood like a heap;

deep waters in the middle of the sea congealed.

The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide plunder,

my desire will be full of them, I will draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.’

You blew with your breath; the sea covered them;

they dropped like lead in the mighty waters.

KJV 1900King James Version

And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,

The floods stood upright as an heap,

And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake,

I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them;

I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them:

They sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Public Domain