Judges

Song of Victory

On that day, Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, sang this song:

In Israel, the warriors let their hair loose; in Israel, they presented voluntary offerings for the war. Blessed be the Lord!

Listen, O kings; pay attention, O princes. I will sing and praise the Lord, the God of Israel.

When you went forth from Seir, O Lord, when you came from the camp of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens reeled, and the clouds poured down rain.

The mountains rocked before the Lord, before the Lord—the God of Israel.

In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Yael, caravans ceased, and travelers wandered through the byways.

There were no leaders in Israel until I, Deborah, awoke and arose as a mother of Israel.

They went after new gods, and war was upon them. There was hardly a shield or a spear for forty thousand men in Israel!

My heart is with the leaders of Israel, among the people who came willingly. Blessed be the Lord!

Those who go riding on white asses, those who walk by the way, meditate!

Hear the voice of those who divide the plunder near the watering place: they sing the favors God has done to Israel when the people of the Lord march down to the gates.

Wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, and begin to sing. Arise, Barak! Moreover, bring your songs, son of Abinoam.

Let the survivors of the people rule over their oppressors! May the Lord be with me, stronger than the valiant!

Your roots, O Ephraim, are in Amalek; your brother Benjamin is behind you among your army. From Machir, the commanders marched down; from Zebulun, the leaders bore the brass staff.

The leaders of Issachar are with Deborah; Issachar is with Barak; the people rushed forth, following their footsteps into the plain.

The clans of Reuben had long talks.

Why did you choose to remain in your folds, listening to the flute among the flock? The clans of Reuben could not decide.

Gilead remained on the other side of the Jordan, and Dan, why did you remain in your ships? Asher has remained on the seacoasts; he is quiet in his ports.

Zebulun, in turn, scorned death; Naphtali also went up to the battlefield.

The kings came to fight; the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach, near the waters of Megiddo, but they got no silver.

The stars fought from the heavens; from their orbits, they fought against Sisera.

The cold torrent Kishon dragged them away. March on without fear, my soul!

Hoofs of horses shake the ground: the galloping of his horses.

Cursed be Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, cursed be it, cursed be its inhabitants, for it came not to the aid of the Lord, not like the heroes.

Blessed among women be Yael, wife of Heber the Kenite, among the women who dwell in tents, blessed may you be!

He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in the cup of honor, she served him cream.

She put her hand to the peg and, with her right hand, took a workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, crushed his head, pierced and shattered his temple.

Between her feet, he collapsed, he fell limp and was lifeless; between her feet, he collapsed and fell limp; in the spot he collapsed, there he fell limp—violently murdered!

Sisera’s mother looks out the window and cries out behind the lattice: Why is his chariot late in coming? Why is his chariot delayed?

The wisest of her women answers:

So may all your enemies perish, O Lord, but may your friends be like the brilliant sun!

And there was peace in the land for forty years.