Judges 5
1 In that day Debbora and Barac son of Abinoem sung, and said:
And Debbora and Barac son of Abineem sang in that day, saying,
2 O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, bless the Lord.
A revelation was made in Israel when the people were made willing: Praise you the Lord.
3 Hear, O ye kings, give ear, ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord, I will sing to the Lord the God of Israel.
Hear, you kings, and listen, rulers: I will sing, it is I [who will sing] to the Lord, it is I, I will sing a psalm to the Lord the god of Israel.
4 O Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, and passedst by the regions of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped water.
O Lord, in your going forth on Seir, when you went forth out of the land of Edom, the earth quaked and the heaven dropped dews, and the clouds dropped water.
5 The mountains melted before the face of the Lord, and Sinai before the face of the Lord the God of Israel.
The mountains were shaken before the face of the Lord Eloi, this Sina before the face of the Lord God of Israel.
6 In the days of Samgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jahel the paths rested: and they that went by them, walked through by-ways.
In the days of Samegar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, they deserted the ways, and went in by-ways; they went in crooked paths.
7 The valiant men ceased, and rested in Israel: until Debbora arose, a mother arose in Israel.
The mighty men in Israel failed, they failed until Debbora arose, until she arose a mother in Israel.
8 The Lord chose new wars, and he himself overthrew the gates of the enemies: a shield and spear was not seen among forty thousand of Israel.
They chose new gods; then the cities of rulers fought; there was not a shield or spear seen amongst forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart loveth the princes of Israel: O you that of your own good will offered yourselves to danger, bless the Lord.
My heart [inclines] to the orders given in Israel; you that are willing amongst the people, bless the Lord.
10 Speak, you that ride upon fair asses, and you that sit in judgment, and walk in the way.
You that mount a she-ass at noon-day, you that sit on the judgement-seat, and walk by the roads of them that sit in judgement by the way; declare
11 Where the chariots were dashed together, and the army of the enemies was choked, there let the justices of the Lord be rehearsed, and his clemency towards the brave men of Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the gates, and obtained the sovereignty.
[you that are delivered] from the noise of disturbers amongst the drawers of water; there shall they relate righteous acts: O Lord, increase righteous acts in Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the cities.
12 Arise, arise, O Debbora, arise, arise, and utter a canticle. Arise, Barac, and take hold of thy captives, O son of Abinoem.
Awake, awake, Debbora; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barac, and lead your captivity captive, son of Abineem.
13 The remnants of the people are saved, the Lord hath fought among the valiant ones.
Then went down the remnant to the strong, the people of the Lord went down for him amongst the mighty ones from me.
14 Out of Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec, and after him out of Benjamin into thy people, O Amalec: Out of Machir there came down princes, and out of Zabulon they that led the army to fight.
Ephraim rooted them out in Amalec, behind you was Benjamin amongst your people: the inhabitants of Machir came down with me searching out the enemy, and from Zabulon came they that draw with the scribe's pen of record.
15 The captains of Issachar were with Debbora, and followed the steps of Barac, who exposed himself to danger, as one going headlong, and into a pit. Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.
And princess in Issachar were with Debbora and Barac, thus she sent Barac on his feet in the valleys into the portions of Ruben; great [pangs] reached to the heart.
16 Why dwellest thou between two borders, that thou mayest hear the bleatings of the flocks? Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.
Why did they sit between the sheepfolds to hear the bleating of flocks for the divisions of Ruben? [there were] great searchings of heart.
17 Galaad rested beyond the Jordan, and Dan applied himself to ships: Aser dwelt on the sea shore, and abode in the havens.
Galaad [is] on the other side of Jordan where he pitched his tents; and why does Dan remain in ships? Aser sat down on the sea-coasts, and he will tabernacle at his ports.
18 But Zabulon and Nephtali offered their lives to death in the region of Merome.
The people Zabulon exposed their soul to death, and Nephthali came to the high places of their land.
19 The kings came and fought, the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanach by the waters of Mageddo, and yet they took no spoils.
Kings set themselves in array, then the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanaach at the water of Mageddo; they took no gift of money.
20 War from heaven was made against them, the stars remaining in their order and courses fought against Sisara.
The stars from heaven set themselves in array, they set themselves [to fight] with Sisara out of their paths.
21 The torrent of Cison dragged their carcasses, the torrent of Cadumim, the torrent of Cisoii: tread thou, my soul, upon the strong ones.
The brook of Kison swept them away, the ancient brook, the brook Kison: my mighty soul will trample him down.
22 The hoofs of the horses were broken whilst the stoutest of the enemies fled amain, and fell headlong down.
When the hoofs of the horse were entangled, his mighty ones earnestly hasted
23 Curse ye the land of Meroz, said the angel of the Lord: curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to help his most valiant men.
to curse Meroz: Curse you [it], said the angel of the Lord; cursed [is] every one that dwells in it, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to his help amongst the mighty.
24 Blessed among women be Jahel the wife of Haber the Cinite, and blessed be she in her tent.
Blessed amongst women be Jael wife of Chaber the Kenite; let her be blessed above women in tents.
25 He asked her water and she gave him milk, and offered him butter in a dish fit for princes.
He asked for water, she gave him milk in a dish; she brought butter of princes.
26 She put her left hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workman’s hammer, and she struck Sisara, seeking in his head a place for the wound, and strongly piercing through his temples.
She stretched forth her left hand to the nail, and her right to the hand workman's hammer, and she struck Sisara with it, she nailed through his head and struck him; she nailed through his temples.
27 At her feet he fell: he fainted, and he died: he rolled before her feet, and he lay lifeless and wretched.
He rolled down between her feet; he fell and lay between her feet; he bowed and fell: where he bowed, there he fell dead.
28 His mother looked out at a window, and howled: and she spoke from the dining room: Why is his chariot so long in coming back? Why are the feet of his horses so slow?
The mother of Sisara looked down through the window out of the loophole, [saying], Why was his chariot ashamed? why did the wheels of his chariots wait?
29 One that was wiser than the rest of his wives, returned this answer to her mother in law:
Her wise ladies answered her, and she returned answers to herself, [saying],
30 Perhaps he is now dividing the spoils, and the fairest of the women is chosen out for him: garments of divers colours are given to Sisara for his prey, and furniture of different kinds is heaped together to adorn the necks.
Will they not find him dividing the spoil? he will surely be gracious to every man: [there are] spoils of dyed garments for Sisara, spoils of various dyed garments, dyed embroidered garments, they [are] the spoils for his neck.
31 So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love thee shine, as the sun shineth in his rising. And the land rested for forty years.
Thus let all your enemies perish, O Lord: and they that love him shall be as the going forth of the sun in his strength. And the land had rest forty years.
