Judges 5
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1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: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!2“Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. 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.3“Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the LORD. I will make music to the LORD, the 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 set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain.
5The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.5The mountains quaked in the presence of the LORD, the God of Mount Sinai— in the presence of 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.6“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways.
7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.7There were few people left in the villages of Israel — until Deborah arose as a mother for 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.8When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel!
9My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD!9My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the LORD!
10"You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider10“Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.
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.11Listen to the village musicians gathered at the watering holes. They recount the righteous victories of the LORD and the victories of his villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD marched down to the city gates.
12Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.'12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
13"The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.13“Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the LORD marched down against mighty 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.14They came down from Ephraim— a land that once belonged to the Amalekites; they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops. From Makir the commanders marched down; from Zebulun came those who carry a commander’s 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.15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.
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 at home among the sheepfolds— to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.
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 east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.
18The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.18But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, 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.19“The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures.
20From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.20The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
21The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!21The Kishon River swept them away— that ancient torrent, the Kishon. March on with courage, my soul!
22Then thundered the horses' hooves-- galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.22Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground, the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds.
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.'23‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the LORD. ‘Let them be utterly cursed, because 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.24“Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.
25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.25Sisera asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him yogurt.
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.26Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg, and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head. With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.
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 sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet. And where he sank, there he died.
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?'28“From the window Sisera’s mother looked out. Through the window she watched for his return, saying, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?’
29The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself,29“Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to 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?'30‘They must be dividing the captured plunder— with a woman or two for every man. There will be colorful robes for Sisera, and colorful, embroidered robes for me. Yes, the plunder will include colorful robes embroidered on both sides.’
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 die like Sisera! But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!” Then there was peace in the land for forty years.
New International Version (NIV)

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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Judges 4
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