Judges 5:1-21 ▼

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

2 |Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, LORD.

3 |Hear, you kings. Give ear, you princes. I, even I, will sing to the LORD. I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

4 |LORD, when you went forth out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, even 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 were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.

7 The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.

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

9 My heart is toward the leaders of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD.

10 |Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on saddle blankets, and you who walk by the way.

11 Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. |Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.

12 'Awake, awake, Deborah. Awaken the multitudes of a nation. Awake, awake, sing a song. Be strong. Arise, Barak. And Deborah, strengthen Barak. And lead away your captives, son of Abinoam.'

13 |Then a remnant of the nobles came down. The people of the LORD marched down to me against the mighty.

14 From Ephraim those who uprooted Amalek came out, following you, Benjamin, among your peoples; out of Makir leaders came down, and out of Zebulun those that handle the staff of office.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping for the flocks? At the divisions of Reuben there were Great Searchings of heart.

17 Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his harbors.

18 Zebulun was a people that risked their lives even to death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

19 The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.

20 From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

21 The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.