11 the 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 ‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah!

Wake up, wake up, break out in song!

Arise, Barak!

Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.’

13 “The remnant of the nobles came down;

the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty.

14 Some 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.

15 The 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.

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.

11 Listen to the village musicians

gathered at the watering holes.

They recount the righteous victories of the Lord

and the victories of his villagers in Israel.

Then the people of the Lord

marched down to the city gates.

12 “Wake up, Deborah, wake up!

Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!

Arise, Barak!

Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!

13 “Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.

The people of the Lord marched down against mighty warriors.

14 They came down from Ephraim—

a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;

they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.

From Makir the commanders marched down;

from Zebulun came those who carry a commander’s staff.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.

They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.

But in the tribe of Reuben

there was great indecision.

11 Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places,

There they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord,

The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel;

Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates.

12 “Awake, awake, Deborah!

Awake, awake, sing a song!

Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away,

O son of Abinoam!

13 “Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles;

The Lord came down for me against the mighty.

14 From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek.

After you, Benjamin, with your peoples,

From Machir rulers came down,

And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;

As Issachar, so was Barak

Sent into the valley under his command;

Among the divisions of Reuben

There were great resolves of heart.

11 Listen to the sound of the singers

at the watering holes.

There they tell about the victories of the Lord,

the victories of the Lord’s warriors in Israel.

Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates.

12 “Wake up, wake up, Deborah!

Wake up, wake up, sing a song!

Get up, Barak!

Go capture your enemies, son of Abinoam!

13 “Then those who were left came down to the important leaders.

The Lord’s people came down to me with strong men.

14 They came from Ephraim in the mountains of Amalek.

Benjamin was among the people who followed you.

From the family group of Makir, the commanders came down.

And from Zebulun came those who lead.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.

The people of Issachar were loyal to Barak

and followed him into the valley.

The Reubenites thought hard

about what they would do.

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.

11 Because of the voice of those who divide the spoil in the midst of the places of drawing water; There they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, His righteous acts toward his villages 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 captive thy captives, thou son of Abinoam! 13 Then come down, thou, the remnant of nobles, as his people; Jehovah! come down with me in the midst of the mighty ones. 14 Out of Ephraim came those whose root was in Amalek; After thee was Benjamin among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handled the staff of the ruler. 15 And the princes in Issachar were with Deborah; And Issachar, like Barak; They were sent into the valley at his feet. In the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart!

11 Listen to the voices of those singing at the wells. 

Over and over again they repeat 

the victories of the Lord, 

the victories for his villages in Israel. 

Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates. 

12 Get up! Get up, Deborah! 

Get up! Get up and create a song! 

Barak, attack! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam. 

13 Then those mighty men who were left came down. 

The Lord’s people went into battle for me against the mighty soldiers. 

14 Those who had settled in Amalek’s country 

came down from Ephraim. 

Benjamin came with its troops 

after Ephraim. 

Commanders from Machir went into battle. 

The officers from Zebulun also went. 

15 Issachar’s commanders were with Deborah. 

They were also with Barak, 

sent into the valley under his command. 

Among Reuben’s divisions important men had second thoughts. 

11 Let them tell the righteous acts of the Lord,

the righteous deeds of His warriors in Israel,

with the voices of the singers at the watering places.

Then the Lord’s people went down to the gates.

12 “Awake! Awake, Deborah!

Awake! Awake, sing a song!

Arise, Barak,

and take hold of your captives,

son of Abinoam!”

13 The survivors came down to the nobles;

the Lord’s people came down to me with the warriors.

14 Those with their roots in Amalek came from Ephraim;

Benjamin came with your people after you.

The leaders came down from Machir,

and those who carry a marshal’s staff came from Zebulun.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah;

Issachar was with Barak.

They set out at his heels in the valley.

There was great searching of heart

among the clans of Reuben.

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, Deborah!

Awake, awake, utter a song!

Arise, Barak, lead away your captives,

O son of Abinoam.

13 Then down marched the remnant of the noble;

the people of the Lord marched down for him against the mighty.

14 From Ephraim they set out into the valley,

following you, Benjamin, with your kin;

from Machir marched down the commanders,

and from Zebulun those who bear the marshal’s staff;

15 the chiefs of Issachar came with Deborah,

and Issachar faithful to Barak;

into the valley they rushed out at his heels.

Among the clans of Reuben

there were great searchings of heart.

11 At the sound of those dividing the sheep

among the watering places,

there they will recount the righteous deeds of Yahweh,

the righteous deeds for his warriors in Israel.

Then the people of Yahweh went down to the gates.

12 “Wake up, wake up, Deborah!

Wake up, wake up, sing a song!

Get up, Barak!

Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam.

13 Then the remnant went down to the nobles;

the people of Yahweh went down for him against the mighty.

14 From Ephraim is their root into Amalek,

after you, Benjamin, with your family;

from Makir the commanders went down,

and from Zebulun those carrying the scepter

of the military commander.

15 And the chiefs in Issachar were with Deborah;

and Issachar likewise was with Barak;

into the valley he was sent to get him from behind.

Among the clans of Reuben

were great decisions of the heart.

11 the voices of the singers at the watering places.

They sing about the right things the Lord does.

They sing about the right things his warriors in Israel do.

“The people of the Lord

went down to the city gates.

12 ‘Wake up, Deborah! Wake up!’ they said.

‘Wake up! Wake up! Begin to sing!

Barak, get up!

Son of Abinoam, capture your prisoners!’

13 “Then the people who were left came down to the nobles.

The people of the Lord

came to me against the powerful enemy.

14 Some came from the part of Ephraim where some Amalekites lived.

Benjamin was with the people who followed Ephraim.

Captains came down from Makir.

Those who rule like commanders came down from Zebulun.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.

The men of Issachar were with Barak.

They rushed behind him into the valley.

In the territories of Reuben,

men looked deeply into their hearts.

11 “At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,

There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the Lord,

The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel.

Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates.

12 “Awake, awake, Deborah;

Awake, awake, sing a song!

Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

13 “Then survivors came down to the nobles;

The people of the Lord came down to me as warriors.

14 “From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down,

Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples;

From Machir commanders came down,

And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.

15 “And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;

As was Issachar, so was Barak;

Into the valley they rushed at his heels;

Among the divisions of Reuben

There were great resolves of heart.