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

² Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

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

⁴ LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

⁵ The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

⁶ In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.

⁷ The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose 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 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

¹¹ They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go 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 he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

¹⁵ And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

¹⁶ Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

¹⁷ Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

¹⁸ Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

¹⁹ The kings came and 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 river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

²² Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.

²³ Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

²⁴ Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

²⁵ He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

²⁶ She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

²⁷ At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

²⁸ The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

²⁹ Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,

³⁰ Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

³¹ So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

---

¹ Then sang ^H7891 Deborah ^H1683 and Barak ^H1301 the son ^H1121 of Abinoam ^H42 on that day, ^H3117 saying, ^H559

² Praise ^H1288 ye the LORD ^H3068 for the avenging ^{H6544 H6546} of Israel, ^H3478 when the people ^H5971 willingly offered ^H5068 themselves.

³ Hear, ^H8085 O ye kings; ^H4428 give ear, ^H238 O ye princes; ^H7336 I, even I, will sing ^H7891 unto the LORD; ^H3068 I will sing ^H2167 praise to the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel. ^H3478

⁴ LORD, ^H3068 when thou wentest out ^H3318 of Seir, ^H8165 when thou marchedst out ^H6805 of the field ^H7704 of Edom, ^H123 the earth ^H776 trembled, ^H7493 and the heavens ^H8064 dropped, ^H5197 the clouds ^H5645 also dropped ^H5197 water. ^H4325

⁵ The mountains ^H2022 melted ^H5140 from before ^H6440 the LORD, ^H3068 even that Sinai ^H5514 from before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel. ^H3478

⁶ In the days ^H3117 of Shamgar ^H8044 the son ^H1121 of Anath, ^H6067 in the days ^H3117 of Jael, ^H3278 the highways ^H734 were unoccupied, ^H2308 and the travellers ^H1980 walked ^H3212 through byways. ^{H6128 H5410}

⁷ The inhabitants of the villages ^H6520 ceased, ^H2308 they ceased ^H2308 in Israel, ^H3478 until that I Deborah ^H1683 arose, ^H6965 that I arose ^H6965 a mother ^H517 in Israel. ^H3478

⁸ They chose ^H977 new ^H2319 gods; ^H430 then was war ^H3901 in the gates: ^H8179 was there a shield ^H4043 or spear ^H7420 seen ^H7200 among forty ^H705 thousand ^H505 in Israel? ^H3478

⁹ My heart ^H3820 is toward the governors ^H2710 of Israel, ^H3478 that offered themselves willingly ^H5068 among the people. ^H5971 Bless ^H1288 ye the LORD. ^H3068

¹⁰ Speak, ^H7878 ye that ride ^H7392 on white ^H6715 asses, ^H860 ye that sit ^H3427 in judgment, ^H4055 and walk ^H1980 by the way. ^H1870

¹¹ They that are delivered from the noise ^H6963 of archers ^H2686 in the places of drawing water, ^H4857 there shall they rehearse ^H8567 the righteous acts ^H6666 of the LORD, ^H3068 even the righteous acts ^H6666 toward the inhabitants of his villages ^H6520 in Israel: ^H3478 then shall the people ^H5971 of the LORD ^H3068 go down ^H3381 to the gates. ^H8179

¹² Awake, ^H5782 awake, ^H5782 Deborah: ^H1683 awake, ^H5782 awake, ^H5782 utter ^H1696 a song: ^H7892 arise, ^H6965 Barak, ^H1301 and lead thy captivity ^H7628 captive, ^H7617 thou son ^H1121 of Abinoam. ^H42

¹³ Then he made him that remaineth ^H8300 have dominion ^H7287 over the nobles ^H117 among the people: ^H5971 the LORD ^H3068 made me have dominion ^H7287 over the mighty. ^H1368

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim ^H669 was there a root ^H8328 of them against Amalek; ^H6002 after ^H310 thee, Benjamin, ^H1144 among thy people; ^H5971 out of Machir ^H4353 came down ^H3381 governors, ^H2710 and out of Zebulun ^H2074 they that handle ^H4900 the pen ^H7626 of the writer. ^H5608

¹⁵ And the princes ^H8269 of Issachar ^H3485 were with Deborah; ^H1683 even Issachar, ^H3485 and also Barak: ^H1301 he was sent ^H7971 on foot ^H7272 into the valley. ^H6010 For the divisions ^H6390 of Reuben ^H7205 there were great ^H1419 thoughts ^H2711 of heart. ^H3820

¹⁶ Why abodest ^H3427 thou among ^H996 the sheepfolds, ^H4942 to hear ^H8085 the bleatings ^H8292 of the flocks? ^H5739 For the divisions ^H6390 of Reuben ^H7205 there were great ^H1419 searchings ^H2714 of heart. ^H3820

¹⁷ Gilead ^H1568 abode ^H7931 beyond ^H5676 Jordan: ^H3383 and why did Dan ^H1835 remain ^H1481 in ships? ^H591 Asher ^H836 continued ^H3427 on the sea ^H3220 shore, ^H2348 and abode ^H7931 in his breaches. ^H4664

¹⁸ Zebulun ^H2074 and Naphtali ^H5321 were a people ^H5971 that jeoparded ^H2778 their lives ^H5315 unto the death ^H4191 in the high places ^H4791 of the field. ^H7704

¹⁹ The kings ^H4428 came ^H935 and fought, ^H3898 then fought ^H3898 the kings ^H4428 of Canaan ^H3667 in Taanach ^H8590 by the waters ^H4325 of Megiddo; ^H4023 they took ^H3947 no gain ^H1215 of money. ^H3701

²⁰ They fought ^H3898 from heaven; ^H8064 the stars ^H3556 in their courses ^H4546 fought ^H3898 against Sisera. ^H5516

²¹ The river ^H5158 of Kishon ^H7028 swept them away, ^H1640 that ancient ^H6917 river, ^H5158 the river ^H5158 Kishon. ^H7028 O my soul, ^H5315 thou hast trodden down ^H1869 strength. ^H5797

²² Then were the horsehoofs ^{H6119 H5483} broken ^H1986 by the means of the pransings, ^H1726 the pransings ^H1726 of their mighty ones. ^H47

²³ Curse ^H779 ye Meroz, ^H4789 said ^H559 the angel ^H4397 of the LORD, ^H3068 curse ^H779 ye bitterly ^H779 the inhabitants ^H3427 thereof; because they came ^H935 not to the help ^H5833 of the LORD, ^H3068 to the help ^H5833 of the LORD ^H3068 against the mighty. ^H1368

²⁴ Blessed ^H1288 above women ^H802 shall Jael ^H3278 the wife ^H802 of Heber ^H2268 the Kenite ^H7017 be, blessed ^H1288 shall she be above women ^H802 in the tent. ^H168

²⁵ He asked ^H7592 water, ^H4325 and she gave ^H5414 him milk; ^H2461 she brought forth ^H7126 butter ^H2529 in a lordly ^H117 dish. ^H5602

²⁶ She put ^H7971 her hand ^H3027 to the nail, ^H3489 and her right hand ^H3225 to the workmen's ^H6001 hammer; ^H1989 and with the hammer she smote ^H1986 Sisera, ^H5516 she smote off ^H4277 his head, ^H7218 when she had pierced ^H4272 and stricken through ^H2498 his temples. ^H7541

²⁷ At her feet ^H7272 he bowed, ^H3766 he fell, ^H5307 he lay down: ^H7901 at her feet ^H7272 he bowed, ^H3766 he fell: ^H5307 where ^H834 he bowed, ^H3766 there he fell down ^H5307 dead. ^H7703

²⁸ The mother ^H517 of Sisera ^H5516 looked ^H8259 out at a window, ^H2474 and cried ^H2980 through the lattice, ^H822 Why is his chariot ^H7393 so long ^H954 in coming? ^H935 why tarry ^H309 the wheels ^H6471 of his chariots? ^H4818

²⁹ Her wise ^H2450 ladies ^H8282 answered ^H6030 her, yea, she returned ^H7725 answer ^H561 to herself,

³⁰ Have they not sped? ^H4672 have they not divided ^H2505 the prey; ^H7998 to every ^H7218 man ^H1397 a damsel ^H7356 or two; ^H7361 to Sisera ^H5516 a prey ^H7998 of divers colours, ^H6648 a prey ^H7998 of divers colours ^H6648 of needlework, ^H7553 of divers colours ^H6648 of needlework on both sides, ^H7553 meet for the necks ^H6677 of them that take the spoil? ^H7998

³¹ So let all thine enemies ^H341 perish, ^H6 O LORD: ^H3068 but let them that love ^H157 him be as the sun ^H8121 when he goeth forth ^H3318 in his might. ^H1369 And the land ^H776 had rest ^H8252 forty ^H705 years. ^H8141

---

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

² For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah.

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

⁴ Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst 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 Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

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

⁷ The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose 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 Jehovah.

¹⁰ Tell `of it', ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way.

¹¹ Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, `Even' the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.

¹² Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam.

¹³ Then came down a remnant of the nobles `and' the people; Jehovah came down for me against the mighty.

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim `came down' 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. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

¹⁶ Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

¹⁷ Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks.

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

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

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

²¹ The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.

²² Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.

²³ Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty.

²⁴ Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

²⁵ He asked water, `and' she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

²⁶ She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples.

²⁷ At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

²⁸ Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera `cried' through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

²⁹ Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,

³⁰ Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?

³¹ So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

---

¹ And Deborah singeth -- also Barak son of Abinoam -- on that day, saying: --

² `For freeing freemen in Israel, For a people willingly offering themselves Bless ye Jehovah.

³ Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, to Jehovah, I -- I do sing, I sing praise to Jehovah, God of Israel.

⁴ Jehovah, in Thy going forth out of Seir, In Thy stepping out of the field of Edom, Earth trembled, also the heavens dropped, Also thick clouds dropped water.

⁵ Hills flowed from the face of Jehovah, This one -- Sinai -- From the face of Jehovah, 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, Till that I arose -- Deborah, That I arose, a mother in Israel.

⁸ He chooseth 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 ye Jehovah!

¹⁰ Riders on white asses -- 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 Jehovah, Righteous acts of His villages in Israel, Then ruled in the gates have the people of Jehovah.

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

¹³ Then him who is left of the honourable ones He caused to rule the people of Jehovah, He caused me to rule among the mighty.

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim their root `is' against Amalek. After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down lawgivers, And out of Zebulun those drawing with the reed of a writer.

¹⁵ And princes in Issachar `are' with Deborah, Yea, Issachar `is' right with Barak, Into the valley he was sent on his feet. In the divisions of Reuben, Great `are' the decrees of heart!

¹⁶ Why hast thou abode between the boundaries, To hear lowings of herds? For the divisions of Reuben, Great `are' the searchings of heart!

¹⁷ Gilead beyond the Jordan did tabernacle, And Dan -- why doth he sojourn `in' ships? Asher hath abode at the haven of the seas, And by his creeks doth tabernacle.

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 fought kings of Canaan, In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; Gain of money they took not!

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

²¹ The brook Kishon swept them away, The brook most ancient -- the brook Kishon. Thou dost tread down strength, O my soul!

²² Then broken were the horse-heels, By pransings -- pransings of its mighty ones.

²³ Curse Meroz -- said a messenger of Jehovah, Cursing, curse ye its inhabitants, For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty!

²⁴ Blessed above women is Jael, Wife of Heber the Kenite, Above women in the tent she is blessed.

²⁵ Water he asked -- milk she gave; In a lordly dish she brought near butter.

²⁶ Her hand to the pin she sendeth forth, And her right hand to the labourers' hammer, And she hammered Sisera -- she smote his head, Yea, she smote, and it passed through his temple.

²⁷ Between her feet he bowed -- He fell, he lay down; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell -- destroyed.

²⁸ Through the window she hath looked out -- Yea, she crieth out -- the mother of Sisera, Through the lattice: Wherefore is his chariot delaying to come? Wherefore tarried have the steps of his chariot?

²⁹ The wise ones, her princesses, answer her, Yea, she returneth her sayings to herself:

³⁰ Do they not find? -- they apportion spoil, A female -- two females -- for every head, Spoil of finger-work for Sisera, Spoil of embroidered finger-work, Finger-work -- a pair of embroidered things, For the necks of the spoil!

³¹ So do all Thine enemies perish, O Jehovah, And those loving Him `are' As the going out of the sun in its might!' and the land resteth forty years.

---

¹ Then sang Deb'orah and Barak the son of Abin'o-am on that day:

² "That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD!

³ "Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing, I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.

⁴ "LORD, when thou didst go forth from Se'ir, when thou didst march from the region of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, yea, the clouds dropped water.

⁵ The mountains quaked before the LORD, yon Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.

⁶ "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Ja'el, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways.

⁷ The peasantry ceased in Israel, they ceased until you arose, Deb'orah, arose as a mother in Israel.

⁸ When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?

⁹ My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD.

¹⁰ "Tell of it, you who ride on tawny asses, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way.

¹¹ To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the triumphs of the LORD, the triumphs of his peasantry in Israel. "Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.

¹² "Awake, awake, Deb'orah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abin'o-am.

¹³ Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for him against the mighty.

¹⁴ From E'phraim they set out thither into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zeb'ulun those who bear the marshal's staff;

¹⁵ the princes of Is'sachar came with Deb'orah, and Is'sachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed forth at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

¹⁶ Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

¹⁷ Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he abide with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, settling down by his landings.

¹⁸ Zeb'ulun is a people that jeoparded their lives to the death; Naph'tali too, on the heights of the field.

¹⁹ "The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Ta'anach, by the waters of Megid'do; they got no spoils of silver.

²⁰ From heaven fought the stars, from their courses they fought against Sis'era.

²¹ The torrent Kishon swept them away, the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!

²² "Then loud beat the horses' hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.

²³ "Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

²⁴ "Most blessed of women be Ja'el, the wife of Heber the Ken'ite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed.

²⁵ He asked water and she gave him milk, she brought him curds in a lordly bowl.

²⁶ She put her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen's mallet; she struck Sis'era a blow, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.

²⁷ He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead.

²⁸ "Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sis'era gazed through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?'

²⁹ Her wisest ladies make answer, nay, she gives answer to herself,

³⁰ 'Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? --A maiden or two for every man; spoil of dyed stuffs for Sis'era, spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck as spoil?'

³¹ "So perish all thine enemies, O LORD! But thy friends be like the sun as he rises in his might." And the land had rest for forty years.

---

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

² For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless you Yahweh.

³ Hear, you kings; give ear, you princes; I, [even] I, will sing to Yahweh; I will sing praise to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

⁴ Yahweh, 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 Yahweh, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Yahweh, 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 that I Deborah arose, That I arose 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, Who offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless you Yahweh.

¹⁰ Tell [of it], you who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, You who walk by the way.

¹¹ Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Yahweh, [Even] the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Yahweh went down to the gates.

¹² Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.

¹³ Then came down a remnant of the nobles [and] the people; Yahweh came down for me against the mighty.

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim [came down] they whose root is in Amalek; After you, Benjamin, among your peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, Out of Zebulun those who handle the marshal's staff.

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

¹⁶ Why sat you among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

¹⁷ Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, Abode by his creeks.

¹⁸ Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death, Naphtali, on the high places of the field.

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

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.

²² Then did the horse hoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.

²³ Curse you Meroz, said the angel of Yahweh. Curse you bitterly the inhabitants of it, Because they didn't come to the help of Yahweh, To the help of Yahweh against the mighty.

²⁴ Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

²⁵ He asked water, [and] she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

²⁶ She put her hand to the tent-pin, Her right hand to the workmen's hammer; With the hammer she struck Sisera, she struck through his head; Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.

²⁷ At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

²⁸ Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera [cried] through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?

²⁹ Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,

³⁰ Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A lady, two ladies to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?

³¹ So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh: But let those who love him be as the sun when he goes forth in his might. The land had rest forty years.

---

¹ At that time Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, made this song, saying:

² Because of the flowing hair of the fighters in Israel, because the people gave themselves freely, give praise to the Lord.

³ Give attention, O kings; give ear, O rulers; I, even I, will make a song to the Lord; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.

⁴ Lord, when you went out from Seir, moving like an army from the field of Edom, the earth was shaking and the heavens were troubled, and the clouds were dropping water.

⁵ The mountains were shaking before the Lord, before the Lord, the God of Israel.

⁶ In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were not used, and travellers went by side roads.

⁷ Country towns were no more in Israel, *** were no more, till you, Deborah, came up, till you came up as a mother in Israel.

⁸ They had no one to make arms, there were no more armed men in the towns; was there a body-cover or a spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?

⁹ Come, you rulers of Israel, you who gave yourselves freely among the people: give praise to the Lord.

¹⁰ Let them give thought to it, who go on white asses, and those who are walking on the road.

¹¹ Give ear to the women laughing by the water-springs; there they will give again the story of the upright acts of the Lord, all the upright acts of his arm in Israel.

¹² Awake! awake! Deborah: awake! awake! give a song: Up! Barak, and take prisoner those who took you prisoner, O son of Abinoam.

¹³ Then the chiefs went down to the doors; the Lord's people went down among the strong ones.

¹⁴ Out of Ephraim they came down into the valley; after you, Benjamin, among your tribesmen; from Machir came down the captains, and from Zebulun those in whose hand is the ruler's rod.

¹⁵ Your chiefs, Issachar, were with Deborah; and Naphtali was true to Barak; into the valley they went rushing out at his feet. In Reuben there were divisions, and great searchings of heart.

¹⁶ Why did you keep quiet among the sheep, hearing nothing but the watchers piping to the flocks?

¹⁷ Gilead was living over Jordan; and Dan was waiting in his ships; Asher kept in his place by the sea's edge, living by his inlets.

¹⁸ It was the people of Zebulun who put their lives in danger, even to death, with Naphtali on the high places of the field.

¹⁹ The kings came on to the fight, the kings of Canaan were warring; in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: they took no profit in money.

²⁰ The stars from heaven were fighting; from their highways they were fighting against Sisera.

²¹ The river Kishon took them violently away, stopping their flight, the river Kishon. Give praise, O my soul, to the strength of the Lord!

²² Then loudly the feet of the horses were sounding with the stamping, the stamping of their war-horses.

²³ A curse, a curse on Meroz! said the angel of the Lord. A bitter curse on her townspeople! Because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord among the strong ones.

²⁴ Blessings be on Jael, more than on all women! Blessings greater than on any in the tents!

²⁵ His request was for water, she gave him milk; she put butter before him on a fair plate.

²⁶ She put out her hand to the tent-pin, and her right hand to the workman's hammer; and she gave Sisera a blow, crushing his head, wounding and driving through his brow.

²⁷ Bent at her feet he went down, he was stretched out; bent at her feet he went down; where he was bent down, there he went down in death.

²⁸ Looking out from the window she gave a cry, the mother of Sisera was crying out through the window, Why is his carriage so long in coming? When will the noise of his wheels be sounding?

²⁹ Her wise women gave answer to her, yes, she made answer again to herself,

³⁰ Are they not getting, are they not parting the goods among them: a young girl or two to every man; and to Sisera robes of coloured needlework, worked in fair colours on this side and on that, for the neck of the queen?

³¹ So may destruction come on all your haters, O Lord; but let your lovers be like the sun going out in his strength. And for forty years the land had peace.