New King James Version

New Living Translation

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

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

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

2“Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise 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“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“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 set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain.

5The mountains gushed before the LORD, This Sinai, before the LORD 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 deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways.

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.

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

7There were few people left in the villages of Israel — until Deborah arose as a mother for 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 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 the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the LORD!

9My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the LORD!

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

10“Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.

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.

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.

12“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O 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“Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The LORD came down for me against the mighty.

13“Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors.

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.

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.

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 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 sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings 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 why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.

17Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.

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

18But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.

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 of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures.

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

20The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits 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 Kishon River swept them away— that ancient torrent, the Kishon. March on with courage, my soul!

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

22Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground, the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty 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‘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 among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents.

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, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.

25Sisera asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him yogurt.

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.

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, he lay still; 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“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“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?’

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

29“Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to 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‘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“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“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.

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

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.