Judges — Chapter 5

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

2“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.

3Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

4O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.

5The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.

7Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.

8When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel.

9My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!

10You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder

11the voices of the singers at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:

12‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’

13Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.

14Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.

15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.

18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.

19Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.

20From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.

21The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!

22Then the hooves of horses thundered—the mad galloping of his stallions.

23‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

24Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

25He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.

26She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple.

27At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead.

28Sisera’s mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’

29Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,

30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’

31So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.

1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

2Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

3Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

4LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

5The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways.

7The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

8They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.

10Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

11They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.

12Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

13Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

14Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

15And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

16Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

17Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

18Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

19The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.

20They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

21The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

22Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.

23Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

24Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

26She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

27At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

29Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,

30Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

31So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

2For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah.

3Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto Jehovah; I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel.

4Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.

5The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways.

7The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.

8They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?

9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah.

10Tell [of it], ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way.

11Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, [Even] the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.

12Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam.

13Then came down a remnant of the nobles [and] the people; Jehovah came down for me against the mighty.

14Out of Ephraim [came down] they whose root is in Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal`s staff.

15And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

16Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

17Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks.

18Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.

19The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money.

20From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera.

21The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.

22Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.

23Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty.

24Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25He asked water, [and] she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

26She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen`s hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples.

27At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera [cried] through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

29Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,

30Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?

31So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this victory song:

2“When the leaders took the lead in Israel, When the people answered the call to war— Praise the Lord!

3Hear, O kings! Pay attention, O rulers! I will sing to the Lord! I will sing to the Lord God of Israel!

4“O Lord, when you departed from Seir, when you marched from Edom’s plains, the earth shook, the heavens poured down, the clouds poured down rain.

5The mountains trembled before the Lord, the God of Sinai; before the Lord God of Israel.

6“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael caravans disappeared; travelers had to go on winding side roads.

7Warriors were scarce; they were scarce in Israel, until you arose, Deborah, until you arose as a motherly protector in Israel.

8God chose new leaders, then fighters appeared in the city gates; but, I swear, not a shield or spear could be found among 40 military units in Israel.

9My heart went out to Israel’s leaders, to the people who answered the call to war. Praise the Lord!

10“You who ride on light-colored female donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, you who walk on the road, pay attention!

11Hear the sound of those who divide the sheep among the watering places; there they tell of the Lord’s victorious deeds, the victorious deeds of his warriors in Israel. Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates—

12“Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! Get up, Barak! Capture your prisoners of war, son of Abinoam!

13Then the survivors came down to the mighty ones; the Lord’s people came down to me as warriors.

14They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek; they follow after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers. From Makir leaders came down, from Zebulun came the ones who march carrying an officer’s staff.

15Issachar’s leaders were with Deborah; the men of Issachar supported Barak; into the valley they were sent under Barak’s command. Among the clans of Reuben there was intense heart searching.

16Why do you remain among the sheepfolds, listening to the shepherds playing their pipes for their flocks? As for the clans of Reuben—there was intense searching of heart.

17Gilead stayed put beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan—why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? Asher remained on the seacoast; he stayed by his harbors.

18The men of Zebulun were not concerned about their lives; Naphtali charged onto the battlefields.

19“Kings came, they fought; the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no silver as plunder.

20From the sky the stars fought, from their paths in the heavens they fought against Sisera.

21The Kishon River carried them off; the river confronted them—the Kishon River. Step on the necks of the strong!

22“The horses’ hooves pounded the ground; the stallions galloped madly.

23‘Call judgment down on Meroz,’ says the angel of the Lord; ‘Be sure to call judgment down on those who live there, because they did not come to help in the Lord’s battle, to help in the Lord’s battle against the warriors.’

24“The most rewarded of women should be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite! She should be the most rewarded of women who live in tents.

25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for a king, she served him curds.

26Her left hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workmen’s hammer. She ‘hammered’ Sisera, she shattered his skull, she smashed his head, she drove the tent peg through his temple.

27Between her feet he collapsed, he fell limp and was lifeless; between her feet he collapsed and fell, in the spot where he collapsed, there he fell—violently killed!

28“Through the window she looked; Sisera’s mother cried out through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so slow to return? Why are the hoofbeats of his chariot horses delayed?’

29The wisest of her ladies answer; indeed she even thinks to herself,

30‘No doubt they are gathering and dividing the plunder— a girl or two for each man to rape! Sisera is grabbing up colorful cloth, he is grabbing up colorful embroidered cloth, two pieces of colorful embroidered cloth, for the neck of the plunderer!’

31“May all your enemies perish like this, O Lord! But may those who love you shine like the rising sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.

1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

2“Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, Yahweh!

3“Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to Yahweh. I will sing praise to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

4“Yahweh, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.

5The mountains quaked Yahweh’s presence, even Sinai at the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

6“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.

7The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.

8They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Yahweh!

10“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.

11Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then Yahweh’s people went down to the gates.

12‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’

13“Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. Yahweh came down for me against the mighty.

14Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun.

15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.

17Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.

18Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

19“The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.

20From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

21The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.

22Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones.

23‘Curse Meroz,’ said Yahweh’s angel. ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to help Yahweh, to help Yahweh against the mighty.’

24“Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

26She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.

27At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28“Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice. ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’

29Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,

30‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’

31“So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years.