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New International Version (1984 Edition)
Judges 5
The Song of Deborah
1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 "When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves-
praise the LORD !
3 "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to (F21) the LORD , I will sing;
I will make music to (F22) the LORD , the God of Israel.
4 "O LORD , when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the land of Edom,
the earth shook, the heavens poured,
the clouds poured down water.
5 The mountains quaked before the LORD , the One of Sinai,
before the LORD , the God of Israel.
6 "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned;
travelers took to winding paths.
7 Village life (F23) in Israel ceased,
ceased until I, (F24) Deborah, arose,
arose a mother in Israel.
8 When they chose new gods,
war came to the city gates,
and not a shield or spear was seen
among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with Israel's princes,
with the willing volunteers among the people.
Praise the LORD !
10 "You who ride on white donkeys, 11 the voice of the singers (F25) at the watering places. 12 'Wake up, wake up, Deborah! 13 "Then the men who were left 14 Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; 15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; 16 Why did you stay among the campfires 17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. 18 The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; 19 "Kings came, they fought; 20 From the heavens the stars fought, 21 The river Kishon swept them away, 22 Then thundered the horses' hoofs- 23 'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD . 24 "Most blessed of women be Jael, 25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk; 26 Her hand reached for the tent peg, 27 At her feet he sank, 28 "Through the window peered Sisera's mother; 29 The wisest of her ladies answer her; 30 'Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: 31 "So may all your enemies perish, O LORD !
sitting on your saddle blankets,
and you who walk along the road,
consider
They recite the righteous acts of the LORD ,
the righteous acts of his warriors (F26) in Israel.
"Then the people of the LORD
went down to the city gates.
Wake up, wake up, break out in song!
Arise, O Barak!
Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam.'
came down to the nobles;
the people of the LORD
came to me with the mighty.
Benjamin was with the people who followed you.
From Makir captains came down,
from Zebulun those who bear a commander's staff.
yes, Issachar was with Barak,
rushing after him into the valley.
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?
Asher remained on the coast
and stayed in his coves.
so did Naphtali on the heights of the field.
the kings of Canaan fought
at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo,
but they carried off no silver, no plunder.
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
the age-old river, the river Kishon.
March on, my soul; be strong!
galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.
'Curse its people bitterly,
because they did not come to help the LORD ,
to help the LORD against the mighty.'
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.
her right hand for the workman's hammer.
She struck Sisera, she crushed his head,
she shattered and pierced his temple.
he fell; there he lay.
At her feet he sank, he fell;
where he sank, there he fell-dead.
behind the lattice she cried out,
'Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?'
indeed, she keeps saying to herself,
a girl or two for each man,
colorful garments as plunder for Sisera,
colorful garments embroidered,
highly embroidered garments for my neck-
all this as plunder?'
But may they who love you be like the sun
when it rises in its strength."
Then the land had peace forty years.
New International Version (1984 Edition)
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