Judges 5:1–12

The Song of Deborah and Barak

5 vThen sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:

2  “That the leaders took the lead in Israel,

that wthe 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, xwhen you went out from Seir,

when you marched from the region of Edom,

ythe earth trembled

and the heavens dropped,

yes, the clouds dropped water.

5  The mountains zquaked before the Lord,

aeven Sinai before the Lord,1 the God of Israel.

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

in the days of cJael, dthe 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  eWhen new gods were chosen,

then war was in the gates.

fWas shield or spear to be seen

among forty thousand in Israel?

9  My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel

who goffered themselves willingly among the people.

Bless the Lord.

10  “Tell of it, hyou who ride on white donkeys,

you who sit on rich carpets2

and you who walk by the way.

11  To the sound of musicians3 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.

12  i“Awake, awake, Deborah!

Awake, awake, break out in a song!

Arise, Barak, jlead away your captives,

O son of Abinoam.