Chapter 5
1 Then 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 , LORD !
3 " Hear , you kings ! Give ear , you princes ! I , even I , will sing to the LORD . I will sing praise to the LORD , the God of Israel .
4 " LORD , 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 .
5 The mountains quaked at the LORD ’s presence , even 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 highways were unoccupied . The travellers walked through byways .
7 The rulers ceased in Israel . They ceased until I , Deborah , arose ; Until I arose a mother in Israel .
8 They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates . Was there a shield or spear seen amongst forty thousand in Israel ?
9 My heart is towards the governors of Israel , who offered themselves willingly amongst the people . Bless the LORD !
10 " Speak , you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets , and you who walk by the way .
11 Far from the noise of archers , in the places of drawing water , there they will rehearse the LORD ’s righteous acts , the righteous acts of his rule in Israel . " Then the LORD ’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. The LORD came down for me against the mighty .
14 Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you , Benjamin , amongst your peoples . Governors come down out of Machir . Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun .
15 The 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 .
16 Why did you sit amongst the sheepfolds ? To hear the whistling for the flocks ? At the watercourses of Reuben , there were great searchings of heart .
17 Gilead lived beyond the Jordan . Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea , and lived by his creeks.
18 Zebulun was a people that jeopardised 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 .
20 From the sky the stars fought . From their courses , they fought against Sisera .
21 The river Kishon swept them away , that ancient river , the river Kishon . My soul , march on with strength .
22 Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones.
23 ‘Curse Meroz ,’ said the LORD ’s angel . ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants , because they didn’t come to help the LORD , to help the LORD 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.
25 He asked for water . She gave him milk . She brought him butter in a lordly dish .
26 She 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 .
27 At 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?’
29 Her 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, LORD , but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength ." Then the land had rest forty years .