Judges 5
5
1Then sang Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, on that day, saying, 2For that leaders led in Israel, For that the people willingly offered themselves, Bless Jehovah! 3Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, even I, will sing to Jehovah; I will hymn to Jehovah the God#GodHebrew: Elohim of Israel. 4Jehovah, when thou wentest forth from Seir, When thou marchedst out of the fields of Edom, The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water. 5The mountains quaked before the face of Jehovah, That Sinai, from before Jehovah the God#GodHebrew: Elohim of Israel.
6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, The roads were unused, and the travellers on highways went by crooked paths. 7The villages ceased in Israel, Ceased until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel. 8They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Jehovah! 10Ye that ride on white she-asses, ye that sit on carpets, and ye that walk by the way, consider. 11Because of the voice of those who divide the spoil in the midst of the places of drawing water; There they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, His righteous acts toward his villages in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.
12Awake, awake, Deborah! awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives, thou son of Abinoam! 13Then come down, thou, the remnant of nobles, as his people; Jehovah! come down with me in the midst of the mighty ones. 14Out of Ephraim came those whose root was in Amalek; After thee was Benjamin among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handled the staff of the ruler. 15And the princes in Issachar were with Deborah; And Issachar, like Barak; They were sent into the valley at his feet. In the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart! 16Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the bleating of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great deliberations of heart! 17Gilead abode beyond Jordan; And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat on the sea-shore, And abode in his creeks. 18Zebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives unto death, Naphtali also, on the high places of the field. 19Kings came, — they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan; At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoil of silver. 20From heaven was the fight; The stars from their courses fought with Sisera. 21The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. My soul, thou hast trodden down strength! 22Then did the horse-hoofs clatter with the coursings, The coursings of their steeds. 23Curse Meroz, saith the Angel of Jehovah; Curse, curse the inhabitants thereof; For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty.
24Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, Blessed above women in the tent! 25He asked water, she gave milk; In the nobles' bowl she brought forth cream. 26She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And she smote Sisera, she struck through his head, Shattered and pierced through his temples. 27Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell, overcome. 28Them other of Sisera looketh out at the window, And crieth through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the trampings of his chariots? 29The wise amongst her ladies answer her, Yea, she returneth answer to herself, 30Have they not found, divided the booty, A damsel, two damsels, to each? A booty of dyed stuffs for Sisera, A booty of dyed stuffs of embroidery, Dyed stuff of double embroidery for the neck of a spoiler? 31So let all thine enemies perish, Jehovah! But let them that love him be as the rising of the sun in its might. And the land had rest forty years.
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Judges 5: DARBY
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Judges 5
5
Deborah and Barak Sing for the Lord
1After the battle was over that day, Deborah and Barak sang this song:
2We praise you, Lord!
Our soldiers volunteered,
ready to follow you.
3Listen, kings and rulers,
while I sing for the Lord,
the God of Israel.
4Our Lord, God of Israel,
when you came from Seir,
where the Edomites live,
5 #
Ex 19.18. rain poured from the sky,
the earth trembled,
and mountains shook.
6In the time of Shamgar
son of Anath,
and now again in Jael's time,
roads were too dangerous
for caravans.
Travelers had to take
the back roads,
7and villagers couldn't work
in their fields.#5.7 villagers … fields: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Then Deborah#5.7 Deborah: Or “I, Deborah.” took command,
protecting Israel as a mother
protects her children.
8The Israelites worshiped
other gods,
and the gates of their towns
were then attacked.#5.8 The Israelites … attacked: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
But they had no shields
or spears to fight with.
9I praise you, Lord,
and I am grateful
for those leaders and soldiers
who volunteered.
10Listen, everyone!
Whether you ride a donkey
with a padded saddle
or have to walk.
11Even those who carry water#5.11 Even … water: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
to the animals will tell you,
“The Lord has won victories,
and so has Israel.”
Then the Lord's people marched
down to the town gates
12and said, “Deborah, let's go!
Let's sing as we march.
Barak, capture our enemies.”
13The Lord's people who were left
joined with their leaders
and fought at my side.#5.13 side: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 13.
14Troops came from Ephraim,
where Amalekites once lived.
Others came from Benjamin;
officers and leaders came
from Machir and Zebulun.
15The rulers of Issachar
came along with Deborah,
and Issachar followed Barak
into the valley.
But the tribe of Reuben
was no help at all!#5.15 But … at all: Or “But the people of Reuben couldn't make up their minds.”
16Reuben, why did you stay
among your sheep pens?#5.16 sheep pens: Or “campfires.”
Was it to listen to shepherds
whistling for their sheep?
No one could figure out
why Reuben wouldn't come.#5.16 No … come: Or “The people of Reuben couldn't make up their minds.”
17The people of Gilead stayed
across the Jordan.
Why did the tribe of Dan
remain on their ships
and the tribe of Asher
stay along the coast
near the harbors?
18But soldiers of Zebulun
and Naphtali
risked their lives
to attack the enemy.#5.18 to attack the enemy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
19Canaanite kings fought us
at Taanach by the stream
near Megiddo#5.19 stream near Megiddo: Probably refers to one of the streams that flow into the Kishon River.—
but they couldn't rob us
of our silver.#5.19 rob us of our silver: The army that won a battle would take everything of value from the dead enemy soldiers.
20From their pathways in the sky
the stars#5.20 stars: In ancient times, the stars were sometimes regarded as supernatural beings. fought Sisera,
21and his soldiers were swept away
by the ancient Kishon River.
I will march on and be brave.
22Sisera's horses galloped off,
their hoofs thundering
in retreat.
23The Lord's angel said,
“Put a curse on Meroz Town!
Its people refused
to help the Lord fight
his powerful enemies.”
24But honor Jael,
the wife of Heber
from the Kenite clan.
Give more honor to her
than to any other woman
who lives in tents.
Yes, give more honor to her
than to any other woman.
25Sisera asked for water,
but Jael gave him milk—
cream in a fancy cup.
26She reached for a tent-peg
and held a hammer
in her right hand.
And with a blow to the head,
she crushed his skull.
27Sisera sank to his knees
and fell dead at her feet.
28Sisera's mother looked out
through her window.
“Why is he taking so long?”
she asked.
“Why haven't we heard
his chariots coming?”
29She and her wisest women
gave the same answer:
30“Sisera and his troops
are finding treasures
to bring back—
a woman, or maybe two,
for each man,
and beautiful dresses
for those women to wear.”#5.30 and beautiful … wear: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
31Our Lord, we pray
that all your enemies
will die like Sisera.
But let everyone who loves you
shine brightly like the sun
at dawn.
Midian Steals Everything from Israel
There was peace in Israel for about 40 years.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.