Judges 5:6-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
6'In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the roads were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways. 7The peasantry came to an end, they came to an end in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel. 8New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel. 9My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the Lord! 10You who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, And you who travel on the road—shout in praise! 11At the sound of those who distribute water among the watering places, There they will 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 lead away your captives, son of Abinoam. 13Then survivors came down to the nobles; The people of the Lord came down to me as warriors. 14From 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. 15And 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 determinations of heart. 16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart. 17Gilead remained across the Jordan; And why did Dan stay on ships? Asher sat at the seashore, And remained by its landings. 18Zebulun was a people who risked their lives, And Naphtali too, on the high places of the field. 19'The kings came and fought; Then the kings of Canaan fought At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. 20The stars fought from heaven, From their paths they fought against Sisera.King James Version
Chapter 5
6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. 7The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 8They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. 10Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 11They 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.
12Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
13Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.
14Out 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.
15And 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.
16Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
17Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
18Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
19The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 5
6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the main roads were deserted because travelers kept to the side roads. 7Villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel. 8Israel chose new gods, then there was war in the city gates. Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. 9My heart is with the leaders of Israel, with the volunteers of the people. Blessed be the Lord! 10You who ride on white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who travel on the road, give praise! 11Let them tell the righteous acts of the Lord, the righteous deeds of his villagers in Israel, with the voices of the singers at the watering places. Then the Lord's people went down to the city gates. 12"Awake! Awake, Deborah! Awake! Awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take your prisoners, son of Abinoam! " 13Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the Lord's people came down to me against the warriors. 14Those 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. 15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar was with Barak; they were under his leadership in the valley. There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben. 16Why did you sit among the sheep pens listening to the playing of pipes for the flocks? There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben. 17Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger at the ships? Asher remained at the seashore and stayed in his harbors.
18The people of Zebulun defied death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.
19Kings came and fought. Then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, but they did not plunder the silver.
20The stars fought from the heavens; the stars fought with Sisera from their paths.
New Living Translation
Chapter 5
6'In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways. 7There were few people left in the villages of Israel — until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel. 8When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel! 9My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the Lord!
10'Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.
11Listen 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.
13'Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the Lord marched down against mighty warriors.
14They 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.
15The 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.
16Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds — to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.
17Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.
18But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
6“In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways. 7The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. 8When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD. 10“Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way. 11To the sound of musicians 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“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. 13Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty. 14From 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; 15the 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. 16Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. 18Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field. 19“The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. 20From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.New International Version
Chapter 5
6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths. 7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. 8God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
9My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the LORD!
10You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider
12Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.'
13The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.
14Some 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.
15The 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.
16Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.
New King James Version
