Judges 5:20–30

²⁰The stars fought from heaven. 

They fought against Sisera from their heavenly paths. 

²¹The Kishon River swept them away— 

that old river, the Kishon. 

I must march on with strength! 

²²Then the horses’ hoofs pounded. 

The mighty war horses galloped on and on. 

²³“Curse Meroz!” said the Messenger of the Lord. 

“Bitterly curse those who live there! 

They did not come to help the Lord, 

to help the Lord and his heroes.” 

²⁴Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, 

should be the most blessed woman, 

the most blessed woman living in a tent. 

²⁵Sisera asked for water. 

She gave him milk. 

She offered him buttermilk in a royal bowl. 

²⁶She reached for a tent peg with one hand, 

for a workman’s hammer with the other. 

She struck Sisera. 

She crushed his head. 

She shattered and pierced his temples. 

²⁷He sank. 

He fell. 

He lay between her feet! 

He sank. 

He fell between her feet. 

Where he sank, he fell dead. 

²⁸Sisera’s mother looked through her window 

and cried as she peered through the lattice. 

“Why is his chariot taking so long? 

Why don’t I hear the clatter of his chariots?” 

²⁹Her wisest servants gave her an answer. 

But she kept repeating to herself, 

³⁰“They’re really finding and dividing the loot: 

A girl or two for each soldier, 

colorful clothes for Sisera, 

colorful, embroidered clothes, 

and two pieces of colorful, embroidered cloth 

for the neck of the looter.”