Judg 5
1
In that day Debbora and Barac son of Abinoem sung, and said:
2
O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, bless 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.
4
O Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, and passedst by the regions of Edom, the earth
trembled, and the heavens dropped water.
5
The mountains melted before the face of the Lord, and Sinai before the face of the
Lord the 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.
7
The valiant men ceased, and rested in Israel: until Debbora arose, a mother arose
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.
9
My heart loveth the princes of Israel: O you that of your own good will offered yourselves
to danger, bless the Lord.
10
Speak, you that ride upon fair asses, and you that sit in judgment, and walk in the
way.
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.
12
Arise, arise, O Debbora, arise, arise, and utter a canticle. Arise, Barac, and take
hold of thy captives, O son of Abinoem.
13
The remnants of the people are saved, the Lord hath fought among the valiant ones.
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.
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.
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.
17
Galaad rested beyond the Jordan, and Dan applied himself to ships: Aser dwelt on the
sea shore, and abode in the havens.
18
But Zabulon and Nephtali offered their lives to death in the region of Merome.
19
The kings came and fought, the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanach by the waters of
Mageddo, and yet they took no spoils.
20
War from heaven was made against them, the stars remaining in their order and courses
fought against Sisara.
21
The torrent of Cison dragged their carcasses, the torrent of Cadumim, the torrent
of Cisoii: tread thou, my soul, upon the strong ones.
22
The hoofs of the horses were broken whilst the stoutest of the enemies fled amain,
and fell headlong down.
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.
24
Blessed among women be Jahel the wife of Haber the Cinite, and blessed be she in her
tent.
25
He asked her water and she gave him milk, and offered him butter in a dish fit for
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.
27
At her feet he fell: he fainted, and he died: he rolled before her feet, and he lay
lifeless and wretched.
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?
29
One that was wiser than the rest of his wives, returned this answer to her mother
in law:
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.
31
So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love thee shine, as the sun
shineth in his rising.
32
And the land rested for forty years.