Judges 5:1-21 ▼

1 And Deborah sings—also Barak son of Abinoam—on that day, saying,

2 “For freeing leaders in Israel, || For a people willingly offering themselves, || Bless YHWH.

3 Hear, you kings; give ear, you princes, || I sing to YHWH, || I sing praise to YHWH, God of Israel.

4 YHWH, in Your going forth out of Seir, || In Your stepping out of the field of Edom, || The earth trembled and the heavens dropped, || And thick clouds dropped water.

5 Hills flowed from the face of YHWH, || This one—Sinai—From the face of YHWH, God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath—In the days of Jael—The ways have ceased, || And those going in the paths go [in] crooked ways.

7 Villages ceased in Israel—they ceased, || Until I arose—Deborah, || That I arose, a mother in Israel.

8 He chooses new gods, || Then war [is] at the gates! A shield is not seen—and a spear || Among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart [is] to the lawgivers of Israel, || Who are offering themselves willingly among the people, || Bless YHWH!

10 Riders on white donkeys—Sitters on a long robe—And walkers by the way—meditate!

11 By the voice of shouters || Between the places of drawing water, || There they give out righteous acts of YHWH, || Righteous acts of His villages in Israel, || Then the people of YHWH have gone down to the gates.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song; Rise, Barak, and take your captivity captive, || Son of Abinoam.

13 Then him who is left of the majestic ones He caused to rule the people of YHWH, || He caused me to rule among the mighty.

14 From Ephraim [are] those whose root [is] in Amalek, || After you, Benjamin, among your peoples, || From Machir lawgivers came down, || And from Zebulun those drawing with the reed of a writer.

15 And princes in Issachar [are] with Deborah, || Indeed, Issachar [is] right with Barak, || Into the valley he was sent on his feet. In the divisions of Reuben, || The decrees of heart [are] great!

16 Why have you abided between the boundaries, || To hear lowings of herds? For the divisions of Reuben, || The searchings of heart [are] great!

17 Gilead dwelt beyond the Jordan, || And why does Dan sojourn [in] ships? Asher has abided at the haven of the seas, || And dwells by his creeks.

18 Zebulun [is] a people who exposed its soul to death, || Naphtali also—on high places of the field.

19 Kings came—they fought; Then kings of Canaan fought, || In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They did not take gain of money!

20 They fought from the heavens: The stars fought with Sisera from their highways.

21 The Brook of Kishon swept them away, || The most ancient brook—the Brook of Kishon. You tread down strength, O my soul!