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, even I, will sing to the Lord;

I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.

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.

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 highways were abandoned;

travelers took to winding paths.

7 Villagers in Israel would not fight;

they held back until I, Deborah, arose,

until I arose, a mother in Israel.

8 God chose new leaders

when war came to the city gates,

but 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!

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 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.

5 The mountains quaked before the Lord,

even 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.

7 The villagers ceased in Israel;

they ceased to be until I arose;

I, Deborah, 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.

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.

2 “Israel’s leaders took charge,

and the people gladly followed.

Praise the Lord!

3 “Listen, you kings!

Pay attention, you mighty rulers!

For I will sing to the Lord.

I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 “Lord, when you set out from Seir

and marched across the fields of Edom,

the earth trembled,

and the cloudy skies poured down rain.

5 The mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord,

the God of Mount Sinai—

in the presence of the Lord,

the God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,

and in the days of Jael,

people avoided the main roads,

and travelers stayed on winding pathways.

7 There were few people left in the villages of Israel—

until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.

8 When Israel chose new gods,

war erupted at the city gates.

Yet not a shield or spear could be seen

among forty thousand warriors in Israel!

9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel,

with those who volunteered for war.

Praise the Lord!

2 “When leaders lead in Israel,

When the people willingly offer themselves,

Bless the Lord!

3 “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!

I, even I, will sing to the Lord;

I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,

When You marched from the field of Edom,

The earth trembled and the heavens poured,

The clouds also poured water;

5 The mountains gushed before the Lord,

This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,

In the days of Jael,

The highways were deserted,

And the travelers walked along the byways.

7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel,

Until I, Deborah, arose,

Arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods;

Then there was war in the gates;

Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel

Who offered themselves willingly with the people.

Bless the Lord!

2 “The leaders led Israel.

The people volunteered to go to battle.

Praise the Lord!

3 Listen, kings.

Pay attention, rulers!

I myself will sing to the Lord.

I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 “Lord, when you came from Edom,

when you marched from the land of Edom,

the earth shook,

the skies rained,

and the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains shook before the Lord, the God of Mount Sinai,

before the Lord, the God of Israel!

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,

in the days of Jael, the main roads were empty.

Travelers went on the back roads.

7 There were no warriors in Israel

until I, Deborah, arose,

until I arose to be a mother to Israel.

8 At that time they chose to follow new gods.

Because of this, enemies fought us at our city gates.

No one could find a shield or a spear

among the forty thousand people of Israel.

9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel.

They volunteered freely from among the people.

Praise the Lord!

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.

2 Praise the Lord! 

Men in Israel vowed to fight, 

and people volunteered for service. 

3 Listen, you kings! 

Open your ears, you princes! 

I will sing a song to the Lord. 

I will make music to the Lord God of Israel. 

4 O Lord, 

when you went out from Seir, 

when you marched from the country of Edom, 

the earth quaked, 

the sky poured, 

the clouds burst, 

5 and the mountains shook 

in the presence of the Lord God of Sinai, 

in the presence of the Lord God of Israel. 

6 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, 

in the days of Jael, 

roads were deserted. 

Those who traveled took back roads. 

7 Villages in Israel were deserted— 

deserted until I, Deborah, took a stand— 

took a stand as a mother of Israel. 

8 When the people chose new gods, 

war broke out inside the city gates. 

Not a weapon was seen among 40,000 in Israel. 

9 My heart goes out to Israel’s commanders, 

to those people who volunteered. 

Praise the Lord! 

2 When the leaders lead in Israel,

when the people volunteer,

praise the Lord.

3 Listen, kings! Pay attention, princes!

I will sing to the Lord;

I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

4 Lord, when You came from Seir,

when You marched from the fields of Edom,

the earth trembled,

the heavens poured rain,

and the clouds poured water.

5 The mountains melted before the Lord,

even Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,

in the days of Jael,

the main ways were deserted

because travelers kept to the side roads.

7 Villages were deserted,

they were deserted in Israel,

until I, Deborah, arose,

a mother in Israel.

8 Israel chose new gods,

then war was in the gates.

Not a shield or spear was seen

among 40,000 in Israel.

9 My heart is with the leaders of Israel,

with the volunteers of the people.

Praise the Lord!

2 “When locks are long in Israel,

when the people offer 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 you went out from Seir,

when you marched from the region of Edom,

the earth trembled,

and the heavens poured,

the clouds indeed poured 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, caravans ceased

and travelers kept to the byways.

7 The peasantry prospered in Israel,

they grew fat on plunder,

because you arose, Deborah,

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.

2 “When long hair hangs loosely in Israel,

when the people willingly offer themselves,

bless Yahweh!

3 Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!

I will sing to Yahweh;

I will sing praise to Yahweh,

the God of Israel.

4 Yahweh, when you went down from Seir,

when you marched from the region of Edom,

the earth trembled, the heavens poured down,

the clouds poured down water.

5 The mountains trembled before Yahweh,

this Sinai, at the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,

in the days of Jael, the caravans had ceased,

the travelers, they kept to the byways.

7 The warriors ceased;

they failed to appear in Israel,

until I, Deborah, arose;

I arose as a mother in Israel.

8 God chose new leaders,

then war was at the gates;

a small shield or a spear was not seen

among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,

those offering themselves willingly among the people;

bless Yahweh!

2 “The princes in Israel lead the way.

The people follow them just because they want to.

Praise the Lord!

3 “Kings, hear this! Rulers, listen!

I will sing to the Lord. I will sing.

I will make music to the Lord. He is the God of Israel.

4 “Lord, you went out from Mount Seir.

You marched out from the land of Edom.

The earth shook. The heavens poured.

The clouds poured down their water.

5 The mountains shook because of the Lord. He was at Mount Sinai.

They shook because of the Lord. He is the God of Israel.

6 “The roads were deserted. So travelers used the winding paths.

That happened in the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath.

It happened in the days of Jael.

7 Life in the villages of Israel stopped.

It stopped until I, Deborah, came.

I came as a mother in Israel.

8 The people chose new gods.

Then war came to the city gates.

But no shields or spears were seen anywhere.

There weren’t any among 40,000 men in Israel.

9 My heart is with the princes in Israel.

It’s with the people who follow them just because they want to.

Praise the Lord!

2 “That the leaders led in Israel,

That the people volunteered,

Bless the Lord!

3 “Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers!

I—to the Lord, I will sing,

I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 “Lord, when You went out from Seir,

When You marched from the field of Edom,

The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,

Even the clouds dripped water.

5 “The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord,

This Sinai, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,

In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted,

And travelers went by roundabout ways.

7 “The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel,

Until I, Deborah, arose,

Until I arose, a mother in Israel.

8 “New gods were chosen;

Then war was in the gates.

Not a shield or a spear was seen

Among forty thousand in Israel.

9 “My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,

The volunteers among the people;

Bless the Lord!