English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

2“That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD!

2“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.

3“Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.

3Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! 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 region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water.

4O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.

5The mountains quaked before the LORD, even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.

5The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of 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, and travelers kept to the byways.

6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.

7The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.

7Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.

8When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?

8When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel.

9My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD.

9My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!

10“Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way.

10You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder

11To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel. “Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.

11the voices of the singers at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:

12“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

12‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’

13Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.

13Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.

14From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant’s staff;

14Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.

15the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

16Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings.

17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.

18Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.

18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.

19“The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver.

19Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.

20From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.

20From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.

21The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!

21The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!

22“Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.

22Then the hooves of horses thundered—the mad galloping of his stallions.

23“Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

23‘Curse 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.’

24“Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed.

24Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

25He asked for water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble’s bowl.

25He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.

26She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen’s mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple.

26She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple.

27Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.

27At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead.

28“Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’

28Sisera’s mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’

29Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself,

29Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,

30‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’

30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’

31“So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years.

31So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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