1 T hen Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:

That day Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang this song:

2 “ When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!

“The leaders led in Israel. The people were willing to help them. For this we give thanks to the Lord!

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

Hear, O kings! Listen, O rulers! I will sing to the Lord. I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 “ Lord, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth trembled and the heavens poured, The clouds also poured water;

Lord, You went out from Seir. You walked from the field of Edom. And the earth shook. Water fell from the heavens. Yes, water fell from the clouds.

5 T he mountains gushed before the Lord, This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.

The mountains shook before the Lord. Mount Sinai shook before the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 “ In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways.

“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the wide roads were empty. Travelers walked on the side roads.

7 V illage life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.

Country towns were empty. They were no more in Israel, until I, Deborah, came. I came as a mother in Israel.

8 T hey chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

New gods were chosen. Then war was in the gates. No battle-covering or sword was seen among 40, 000 in Israel.

9 M y heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the Lord!

My heart is with the leaders of Israel, who were willing to help among the people. Thanks be to the Lord!

10 “ Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges’ attire, And who walk along the road.

Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys and you who sit on rich floor coverings. Tell of it, you who travel on the road.

11 F ar from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord, The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel; Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates.

They will tell of the right and good acts of the Lord at the sound of music beside the wells of water. They will tell of His right and good acts toward His towns people in Israel. Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.

12 “ Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!

“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Get up, Barak! Lead away the people you took in war, O son of Abinoam.

13 “ Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The Lord came down for me against the mighty.

Those who were left came down to the rulers. The people of the Lord came down to me as soldiers.

14 F rom Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek. After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, From Machir rulers came down, And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.

The children of Amalek came down from Ephraim. They followed you, Benjamin, with your people. Leaders came down from Machir. Leaders came from Zebulun.

15 A nd the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

The rulers of Issachar came with Deborah. Issachar was faithful to Barak. They ran behind him into the valley. There was much thinking done among the families of Reuben.

16 W hy did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.

Why did you sit among the sheep, to hear the horns blow for the flocks? There was much thought among the families of Reuben.

17 G ilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.

Gilead stayed on the other side of the Jordan. Why did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat beside the sea. He stayed by its rivers.

18 Z ebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

Zebulun is a people who put their lives in danger even to death. Naphtali did this also, on the high places of the field.

19 “ The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver.

“The kings came and fought. The kings of Canaan fought at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo. They did not get any silver.

20 T hey fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.

The stars fought from heaven. From their paths they fought against Sisera.

21 T he torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!

The fast river of Kishon took them away, the rushing river, the river Kishon. O my soul, walk on with strength.

22 T hen the horses’ hooves pounded, The galloping, galloping of his steeds.

The beating of the feet of horses was loud, because the strong horses went fast.

23 ‘ Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.’

’Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Curse its people, because they did not come to the help of the Lord. They did not help the Lord against the powerful soldiers.’

24 “ Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents.

“The most respected of women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. She is the most respected of women in the tent.

25 H e asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.

Sisera asked for water and she gave him milk. She brought him milk in a fine pot.

26 S he stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple.

She put out her hand to the big tent nail. And she put out her right hand for the servant’s heavy object. Then she hit Sisera. She crushed his head. She broke and cut through the side of his head.

27 A t her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead.

He went down. He fell and lay without moving at her feet. He fell dead where he went down.

28 “ The mother of Sisera looked through the window, And cried out through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’

“The mother of Sisera looked out of the window. She looked through the window and cried in sorrow, ‘Why is his war-wagon so long in coming? Why do the steps of his horses wait?’

29 H er wisest ladies answered her, Yes, she answered herself,

Her wise ladies answered her. But she asked herself again and again,

30 ‘ Are they not finding and dividing the spoil: To every man a girl or two; For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments, Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed, Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’

’Are they not finding and dividing the riches? Is there not a girl or two for every man? Is there not colored cloth for Sisera to take? Is there not colored cloth with beautiful sewing on it? Are there not two pieces of colored cloth with beautiful sewing on them for the neck of the one who takes them?’

31 “ Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength.” So the land had rest for forty years.

So let all those who hate You die, O Lord. But let those who love Him be like the sun as he rises in his power.” And the land had peace for forty years.