Judges 5:1-21 ▼

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

2 When men let grow their hair in Israel, When the people offer themselves willingly, Bless ye the LORD.

3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, unto the LORD will I sing; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

4 LORD, when Thou didst go forth out of Seir, When Thou didst march out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, Even yon Sinai at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways ceased, And the travellers walked through byways.

7 The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that thou didst arise, Deborah, That thou didst arise a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates; Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?

9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.

10 Ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich cloths, And ye that walk by the way, tell of it;

11 Louder than the voice of archers, by the watering-troughs! There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, Even the righteous acts of His rulers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song; Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

13 Then made He a remnant to have dominion over the nobles and the people; The LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

14 Out of Ephraim came they whose root is in Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal's staff.

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

16 Why sattest thou among the sheep-folds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead abode beyond the Jordan; And Dan, why doth he sojourn by the ships? Asher dwelt at the shore of the sea, And abideth by its bays.

18 Zebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.

19 The kings came, they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan, In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; They took no gain of money.

20 They fought from heaven, The stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

21 The brook Kishon swept them away, That ancient brook, the brook Kishon. O my soul, tread them down with strength.