New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

2“Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the LORD!

2"That the leaders led in Israel, That the people volunteered, Bless 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.

3"Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I-- to the LORD, I will sing, I will sing praise to the LORD, the 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 went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Even the clouds dripped 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.

5"The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, This Sinai, at the presence of 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.

6"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways.

7There were few people left in the villages of Israel — until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.

7"The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I 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!

8"New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel.

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

9"My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless 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.

10"You who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, And you who travel on the road-- sing!

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.

11"At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD, The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel. Then the people of the LORD 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!

12"Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

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

13"Then survivors came down to the nobles; The people of the LORD came down to me as 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.

14"From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down, Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples; From Machir commanders came down, And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.

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.

15"And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves 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.

16"Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

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

17"Gilead remained across the Jordan; And why did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat at the seashore, And remained by its landings.

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

18"Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death, And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

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

19"The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver.

20The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.

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

21The Kishon River swept them away— that ancient torrent, the Kishon. March on with courage, my soul!

21"The torrent of Kishon swept them away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.

22Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground, the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds.

22"Then the horses' hoofs beat From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds.

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.’

23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the 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.

24"Most blessed of women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Most blessed is she of women in the tent.

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

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

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.

26"She reached out her hand for the tent peg, And her right hand for the workmen's hammer. Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head; And she shattered and pierced his temple.

27He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet. And where he sank, there he died.

27"Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, 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?’

28"Out of the window she looked and lamented, The mother of Sisera through the lattice, 'Why does his chariot delay in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?'

29“Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to herself:

29"Her wise princesses would answer her, Indeed she repeats her words to 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.’

30'Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil? A maiden, two maidens for every warrior; To Sisera a spoil of dyed work, A spoil of dyed work embroidered, Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?'

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"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might." And the land was undisturbed for forty 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.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org