Judges 5
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New International VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:
2"When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves-- praise the LORD!2When the leaders lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, praise the LORD.
3"Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will praise the LORD, the God of Israel, in song.3Listen, kings! Pay attention, princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
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.4 LORD, when You came from Seir, when You marched from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured rain, and the clouds poured water.
5The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.5The mountains melted before the LORD, even 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; travelers took to winding paths.6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the main ways were deserted because travelers kept to the side roads.
7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.7Villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel, until I, Deborah, 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.8Israel chose new gods, then war was in the gates. Not a shield or spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel.
9My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD!9My heart is with the leaders of Israel, with the volunteers of the people. Praise the LORD!
10"You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider10You who ride on white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who travel on the road, give praise!
11the voice of the singers 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.11Let them tell the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His warriors in Israel, with the voices of the singers at the watering places. Then the LORD's people went down to the gates."
12Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.'12Awake! Awake, Deborah! Awake! Awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take hold of 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.13The survivors came down to the nobles; the LORD's people came down to me with the warriors.
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 staff.14Those with their roots in Amalek came from Ephraim; Benjamin came with your people after you. The leaders came down from Machir, and those who carry a marshal's staff came from Zebulun.
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.15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar was with Barak. They set out at his heels in the valley. There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.
16Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds listening to the playing of pipes for the flocks? There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.
17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger at the ships? Asher remained at the seashore and stayed in his harbors.
18The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.18Zebulun was a people risking their lives, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.
19"Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver.19Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no spoil of silver.
20From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.20The stars fought from the heavens; the stars fought with Sisera from their courses.
21The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!21The river Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul, in strength!
22Then thundered the horses' hooves-- galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.22The horses' hooves then hammered-- the galloping, galloping of his stallions."
23Curse 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.'23Curse 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 warriors."
24"Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.24Jael is most blessed of women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; she is most blessed among tent-dwelling women.
25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.25He asked for water; she gave him milk. She brought him curdled milk in a majestic bowl.
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.26She reached for a tent peg, her right hand, for a workman's mallet. Then she hammered 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.27He collapsed, he fell, he lay down at her feet; he collapsed, he fell at her feet; where he collapsed, 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?'28Sisera's mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice, crying out:" Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don't I hear the hoofbeats of his horses?"
29The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself,29Her wisest princesses answer her; she even answers herself:"
30Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck-- all this as plunder?'30Are they not finding and dividing the spoil-- a girl or two for each warrior, the spoil of colored garments for Sisera, the spoil of an embroidered garment or two for my neck?"
31"So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." Then the land had peace forty years.31 LORD, may all your enemies perish as Sisera did. But may those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its strength. And the land was peaceful 40 years.
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Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Judges 4
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