1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day: (Ex 15:1)2“That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord! (Jud 5:9; 2Ch 17:16)3“Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the Lord I will sing; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.4“Lord, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. (De 33:2; 2Sa 22:8; Ps 18:7; Ps 68:7; Ps 68:8; Ps 77:18; Na 1:5; Hab 3:10)5The mountains quaked before the Lord, even Sinai before the Lord,[1] the God of Israel. (Ex 19:18; De 4:11; Isa 64:1; Isa 64:3)6“In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways. (Le 26:22; Jud 3:31; Jud 4:17; Isa 33:8; La 1:4)7The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.8When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel? (De 32:16; Jud 2:12; Jud 2:17; 1Sa 13:19; 1Sa 13:22)9My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord. (Jud 5:2)10“Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets[2] and you who walk by the way. (Jud 10:4; Jud 12:14; Zec 9:9)11To the sound of musicians[3] at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the Lord, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel. “Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord.12“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. (Ps 57:8; Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8)13Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the Lord marched down for me against the mighty.14From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,[4] following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant’s[5] staff; (Nu 32:39; Jud 3:27; Jud 12:15)15the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. (Jud 4:14)16Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. (Ge 49:14; Nu 32:1; Ps 68:13)17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. (Ge 49:13; Jos 13:24; Jos 19:29; Jos 19:31; Jos 19:46)18Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field. (Jud 4:10)19“The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. (Jos 17:11; Jud 1:27; Jud 5:30; 1Ki 4:12; 2Ki 9:27; 2Ki 23:29; 2Ch 35:22)20From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. (Jos 10:11)21The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! (Jud 4:7)22“Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.23“Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. (Jud 21:9)24“Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. (Jud 4:17)25He asked for water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble’s bowl. (Jud 4:19)26She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen’s mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple. (Jud 4:21)27Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.28“Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’ (2Sa 6:16; Pr 7:6)29Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself,30‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’ (Ex 15:9)31“So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years. (Jud 3:11; 2Sa 23:4; Ps 19:5; Ps 37:6; Ps 83:9; Da 12:3; Mt 13:43)
Judges 5
New International Version
The song of Deborah
1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:2‘When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves – praise the Lord!3‘Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to[1] the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.4‘When you, Lord, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.5The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel.6‘In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travellers took to winding paths.7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.8God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.9My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!10‘You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider11the voice of the singers[2] at the watering places. They recite the victories of the Lord, the victories of his villagers in Israel. ‘Then the people of the Lord went down to the city gates.12“Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.”13‘The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty.14Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s[3] staff.15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.16Why did you stay among the sheepfolds[4] to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.18The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.19‘Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, 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 age-old river, the River Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!22Then thundered the horses’ hooves – galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.23“Curse Meroz,” said the angel of the Lord. “Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty.”24‘Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.26Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.27At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell – dead.28‘Through the window peered Sisera’s mother; behind the lattice she cried out, “Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?”29The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself,30“Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colourful garments as plunder for Sisera, colourful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck – all this as plunder?”31‘So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.’ Then the land had peace for forty years.
Judges 5
King James Version
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 travellers 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' 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.
Judges 5
New International Reader’s Version
The song of Deborah
1On that day Deborah and Barak sang a song. Barak was the son of Abinoam. Here is what Deborah and Barak sang.2‘The princes in Israel lead the way. The people follow them just because they want to. When this happens, praise the LORD!3‘Kings, hear this! Rulers, listen! I will sing to the LORD. I will praise the LORD in song. He is the God of Israel.4‘LORD, you went out from Seir. You marched out from the land of Edom. The earth shook. The heavens poured. The clouds poured down their water.5The mountains shook because of the LORD. He was at Mount Sinai. They shook because of the LORD. He is the God of Israel.6‘The main roads were deserted. So travellers used the winding paths. That happened in the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath. It happened in the days of Jael.7Those who lived in the villages of Israel would not fight. They held back until I, Deborah, came. I came as a mother in Israel.8War came to the city gates. Then God chose new leaders. But no shields or spears were seen anywhere. There weren’t any among 40,000 men in Israel.9My heart is with the princes in Israel. It’s with the people who follow them just because they want to. Praise the LORD!10‘Some of you ride on white donkeys. Some of you sit on your saddle blankets. Some of you walk along the road. Think about11the voices of the singers at the watering places. They sing about the victories of the LORD. They sing about the victories of his people who live in Israel’s villages. ‘The people of the LORD went down to the city gates.12“Wake up, Deborah! Wake up!” they said. “Wake up! Wake up! Begin to sing! Barak, get up! Son of Abinoam, capture your prisoners!”13‘The nobles who were left came down. The people of the LORD came down to me against the powerful enemy.14Some came from the part of Ephraim where some Amalekites lived. Some from Benjamin were with the people who followed Ephraim. Captains came down from Makir. Those who rule like commanders came down from Zebulun.15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. The men of Issachar were with Barak. They went into the valley under his command. In the territories of Reuben, men looked deeply into their hearts.16Why did they stay among the sheepfolds? Why did they stay to hear shepherds whistling for the flocks? In the territories of Reuben, men looked deeply into their hearts.17Gilead stayed east of the River Jordan. Why did Dan stay near the ships? The men of Asher remained on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. They stayed in their safe harbours.18The people of Zebulun put their very lives in danger. So did Naphtali on the hillside fields.19‘Kings came and fought. The kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the streams of Megiddo. But they didn’t carry away any silver. They didn’t take anything at all.20From the heavens the stars fought. From the sky they fought against Sisera.21The River Kishon swept them away. The Kishon is a very old river. My spirit, march on! Be strong!22The hooves of the horses pounded like thunder. The powerful horses of our enemies galloped away.23“Let Meroz be cursed,” said the angel of the LORD. “Let bitter curses fall on its people. They did not come to help the LORD. They did not come to help him against our powerful enemies.”24‘May Jael be the most blessed woman of all. May the wife of Heber, the Kenite, be blessed. May she be the most blessed woman of all those who live in tents.25Sisera asked for water. She gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles she brought him buttermilk.26Her hand reached out for a tent stake. Her right hand reached for a hammer. She hit Sisera. She crushed his head. She drove the stake right through his head.27He sank down. He fell at her feet. He was lying there. At her feet he sank down. He fell. He fell where he sank down. That’s where he died.28‘Sisera’s mother looked out through the window. From behind the wooden screen she cried out. “Why is his chariot taking so long to get here?” she said. “Why can’t I hear the noise of his chariots yet?”29Her wisest ladies answer her. And here’s what she keeps saying to herself.30She says, “They must be finding riches to bring back. They must be dividing them up. Each man is getting a woman or two. They are giving colourful clothes to Sisera. The clothes are very beautiful. He will bring some for me to wear. The men must be finding many things to bring home.”31‘LORD, may all your enemies be destroyed. But may all who love you be like the morning sun. May they be like the sun when it shines the brightest.’ So the land was at peace for 40 years.