Judges 5:14–15

14 From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,

following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;

from Machir marched down the commanders,

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

15 the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,

and Issachar faithful to Barak;

into the valley they rushed at his heels.

Among the clans of Reuben

there were great searchings of heart.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.