1 T hat day Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang this song:

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

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

“ That the leaders led in Israel, That the people volunteered, Bless the Lord!

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

“Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I—to the Lord, I will sing, I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 L ord, 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.

“ Lord, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Even the clouds dripped water.

5 T he mountains shook before the Lord. Mount Sinai shook before the Lord, the God of Israel.

“ The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord, This Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 “ 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.

“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways.

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

“The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel.

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

“ New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel.

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

“My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the Lord!

10 T ell 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.

“ You who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, And you who travel on the road— sing!

11 T hey 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.

“At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the Lord, The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel. Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.

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

“ Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

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

“Then survivors came down to the nobles; The people of the Lord came down to me as warriors.

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

“From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down, Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples; From Machir commanders came down, And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.

15 T he 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.

“And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

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

“Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

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

“ Gilead remained across the Jordan; And why did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat at the seashore, And remained by its landings.

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

“ Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death, And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

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

“ The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver.

20 T he stars fought from heaven. From their paths they fought against Sisera.

“ The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera.

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

“The torrent of Kishon swept them away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.

22 T he beating of the feet of horses was loud, because the strong horses went fast.

“ Then the horses’ hoofs beat From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds.

23 ’ 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.’

‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the warriors.’

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

“ Most blessed of women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Most blessed is she of women in the tent.

25 S isera asked for water and she gave him milk. She brought him milk in a fine pot.

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

26 S he 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.

“She reached out her hand for the tent peg, And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer. Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head; And she shattered and pierced his temple.

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

“Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell dead.

28 “ 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?’

“Out of the window she looked and lamented, The mother of Sisera through the lattice, ‘Why does his chariot delay in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?’

29 H er wise ladies answered her. But she asked herself again and again,

“Her wise princesses would answer her, Indeed she repeats her words to herself,

30 ’ 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?’

‘ Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil? A maiden, two maidens for every warrior; To Sisera a spoil of dyed work, A spoil of dyed work embroidered, Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?’

31 S o 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.

“ Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.” And the land was undisturbed for forty years.