The Song of Deborah and Barak (Exodus 15:1–21)
1 UEB On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: BSB BSB: On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 UEB "When the leaders take the lead in Israel, when the people gladly volunteer for war— we praise Yahweh! BSB BSB: “When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
3 UEB Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you leaders! I, I will sing to Yahweh; I will sing praises to Yahweh, the God of Israel. BSB BSB: Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4 UEB Yahweh, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from Edom, the earth shook, and the skies also trembled; also the clouds poured down water. BSB BSB: O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.
5 UEB The mountains quaked before the face of Yahweh; even Mount Sinai quaked before the face of Yahweh, the God of Israel. BSB BSB: The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.
6 UEB In the days of Shamgar (son of Anath), in the days of Jael, the main roads were abandoned, and those who walked only used the winding paths. BSB BSB: In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.
7 UEB There were few rural people in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose—arose as a mother in Israel! BSB BSB: Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.
8 UEB When they chose new gods, there was fighting at the city gates and yet there were no shields or spears seen among forty thousand in Israel. BSB BSB: When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel.
9 UEB My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, along with the people who gladly volunteered— we bless Yahweh for them! BSB BSB: My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!
10 UEB Think about this—you who ride on white donkeys sitting on rugs for saddles, and you who walk along the road. BSB BSB: You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder
11 UEB Hear the voices of those who sing at the watering places. There they tell again of Yahweh's righteous deeds, and the righteous actions of his warriors in Israel. Then the people of Yahweh went down to the city gates. BSB BSB: the voices of the singers at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:
12 UEB Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Get up, Barak, and capture your prisoners, you son of Abinoam. BSB BSB: ‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’
13 UEB Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of Yahweh came down to me with the warriors. BSB BSB: Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.
14 UEB They came from Ephraim, whose root is in Amalek; the people of Benjamin followed you. From Machir commanders came down, and from Zebulun those who carry an officer's staff. BSB BSB: Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.
15 UEB My princes in Issachar were with Deborah; and Issachar was with Barak rushing after him into the valley under his command. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. BSB BSB: The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
16 UEB Why did you sit between the fireplaces, listening to the shepherds playing their pipes for their flocks? As for the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. BSB BSB: Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
17 UEB Gilead stayed on the other side of the Jordan; and Dan, why did he wander about on ships? Asher remained on the coast and lived close to his harbors. BSB BSB: Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.
18 UEB Zebulun was a tribe who would risk their lives to the point of death, and Naphtali, also, on the field of battle. BSB BSB: Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.
19 UEB The kings came, they fought; the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. But they took away no silver as plunder. BSB BSB: Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.
20 UEB From heaven the stars fought, from their paths across the heavens they fought against Sisera. BSB BSB: From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 UEB The Kishon River swept them away, that old river, the Kishon River. March on my soul, be strong! BSB BSB: The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!
22 UEB Then came the sound of horses' hooves— galloping, the galloping of his mighty ones. BSB BSB: Then the hooves of horses thundered—the mad galloping of his stallions.
23 UEB 'Curse Meroz!' says the angel of Yahweh. 'Surely curse its inhabitants!— because they did not come to help Yahweh— to help Yahweh in the battle against the mighty warriors.' BSB BSB: ‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’
24 UEB Jael is blessed more than all other women, Jael (the wife of Heber the Kenite), she is more blessed than all the women who live in tents. BSB BSB: Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
25 UEB The man asked for water, and she gave him milk; she brought him butter in a dish fit for princes. BSB BSB: He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
26 UEB She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workman's hammer; with the hammer she struck Sisera, she crushed his head. She smashed his skull into pieces when she pierced him through the side of his head. BSB BSB: She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 UEB He collapsed between her feet, he fell and he lay there. Between her feet he fell limp. The place he collapsed is where he was violently killed. BSB BSB: At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead.
28 UEB Out of a window she looked— the mother of Sisera looked through the lattice and she called out in sadness, 'Why has it taken his chariot so long to come? Why have the hoofbeats of the horses that pull his chariots been delayed?' BSB BSB: Sisera’s mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’
29 UEB Her wisest princesses replied, and she gave herself the same answer: BSB BSB: Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,
30 UEB 'Have they not found and divided up the plunder? —A womb, two wombs for every man; the plunder of dyed fabric for Sisera, the plunder of dyed fabric embroidered, two pieces of dyed fabric embroidered for the necks of those who plunder?' BSB BSB: ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’
31 UEB So may all your enemies perish, Yahweh! But your friends be like the sun when it rises in its might." Then the land had peace for forty years. BSB BSB: So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.