| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day: | 1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: |
| 2“That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD! | 2"When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves-- praise 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. | 3"Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will praise the LORD, the God of Israel, in song. |
| 4“ LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. | 4"When you, LORD, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. |
| 5The mountains quaked before the LORD, even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel. | 5The 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 highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways. | 6"In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. |
| 7The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. | 7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. |
| 8When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel? | 8God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. |
| 9My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD. | 9My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD! |
| 10“Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way. | 10"You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider |
| 11To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel. “Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD. | 11the voice of the singers at the watering places. They recite the victories of the LORD, the victories of his villagers in Israel. "Then the people of the LORD went down to the city gates. |
| 12“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. | 12Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.' |
| 13Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty. | 13"The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty. |
| 14From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant’s staff; | 14Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander's staff. |
| 15the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. | 15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. |
| 16Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. | 16Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. |
| 17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. | 17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves. |
| 18Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field. | 18The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields. |
| 19“The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. | 19"Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver. |
| 20From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. | 20From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. |
| 21The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! | 21The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong! |
| 22“Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds. | 22Then thundered the horses' hooves-- galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds. |
| 23“Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. | 23Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD. 'Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.' |
| 24“Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. | 24"Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. |
| 25He asked for water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble’s bowl. | 25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. |
| 26She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen’s mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple. | 26Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple. |
| 27Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead. | 27At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell--dead. |
| 28“Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’ | 28"Through the window peered Sisera's mother; behind the lattice she cried out, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?' |
| 29Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself, | 29The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself, |
| 30‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’ | 30Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck-- all this as plunder?' |
| 31“So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years. | 31"So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." Then the land had peace forty years. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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