New Living Translation | Holman 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“Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the LORD! | 2When the leaders lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, praise the LORD. |
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. | 3Listen, kings! Pay attention, princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. |
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. | 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 in the presence of the LORD, the God of Mount Sinai— in the presence of 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, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways. | 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. |
7There were few people left in the villages of Israel — until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel. | 7Villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother 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! | 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 the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the LORD! | 9My heart is with the leaders of Israel, with the volunteers of the people. Praise the LORD! |
10“Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road. | 10You who ride on white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who travel on the road, give praise! |
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. | 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." |
12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam! | 12Awake! Awake, Deborah! Awake! Awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take hold of your captives, son of Abinoam!" |
13“Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors. | 13The survivors came down to the nobles; the LORD's people came down to me with the warriors. |
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. | 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 and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision. | 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 sit at home among the sheepfolds— to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision. | 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 remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors. | 17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger at the ships? Asher remained at the seashore and stayed in his harbors. |
18But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield. | 18Zebulun was a people risking their lives, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield. |
19“The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures. | 19Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no spoil of silver. |
20The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera. | 20The stars fought from the heavens; the stars fought with Sisera from their courses. |
21The Kishon River swept them away— that ancient torrent, the Kishon. March on with courage, my soul! | 21The river Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul, in strength! |
22Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground, the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds. | 22The horses' hooves then hammered-- the galloping, galloping of his stallions." |
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.’ | 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 among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. May she be blessed above all women who live in tents. | 24Jael is most blessed of women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; she is most blessed among tent-dwelling women. |
25Sisera asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him yogurt. | 25He asked for water; she gave him milk. She brought him curdled milk in a majestic bowl. |
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. | 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. |
27He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet. And where he sank, there he died. | 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“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?’ | 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?" |
29“Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to herself: | 29Her wisest princesses answer her; she even answers herself:" |
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.’ | 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“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. | 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. |
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. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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