New King James Version

English Standard Version

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

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

2“When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD!

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

3“Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

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.

4“LORD, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth trembled and the heavens poured, The clouds also poured water;

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.

5The mountains gushed before the LORD, This Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel.

5The mountains quaked 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 deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways.

6“In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways.

7Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.

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

8They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand 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?

9My heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the LORD!

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

10“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges’ attire, And who walk along the road.

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

11Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel; Then the people of the LORD shall go down to the gates.

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.

12“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!

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

13“Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The LORD came down for me against the mighty.

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

14From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek. After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, From Machir rulers came down, And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.

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;

15And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

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.

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.

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.

17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.

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.

18Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

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

19“The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver.

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.

20They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.

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

21The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!

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

22Then the horses’ hooves pounded, The galloping, galloping of his steeds.

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

23‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, 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, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

24“Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents.

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

25He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.

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

26She stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple.

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.

27At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead.

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

28“The mother of Sisera looked through the window, And cried out through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’

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?’

29Her wisest ladies answered her, Yes, she answered herself,

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

30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil: To every man a girl or two; For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments, Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed, Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’

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?’

31“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength.” So the land had rest for forty years.

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.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.