The Song of Deborah

Verse 1

Praise ye the Lord, who hath avenged His Israel, on their haughty foes; When the brave people freely did Their lives, for liberty, expose.

Verse 2

Hear, O ye kings, princes give ear, Whilst I to great Jehovah sing; In sacred numbers shout the praise Of Israels God, the almighty King.

Verse 3

When God from Mount Seir marched in state, And turned from Edom's lofty towers, The earth shook, the heavens in thunders dropped, The clouds poured down their rapid showers.

Verse 4

The mountains flamed, and melting flowed, Nor could Jehovah's presence bear; So Sinai unknown terrors felt, When Israel's God was present there.

Verse 5

In Shangar's Anath's valiant son, And famous Jael's former days, The roads, by travelers were untrod; Who fearful, walked through secret ways.

Verse 6

The villages were broken up, Their lands uncultivate were laid; Until I Deborah was raised And mother in God's Israel made.

Verse 7

New gods their sickly fancies chose, Fierce wars their gates invaded then; Was shield, or spear, in Israel's tents Seen among forty thousand men?

Verse 8

My heart is set on Israel's chiefs, Who offered of their own accord, Bravely to join, and head the troops In battle: blessed be the Lord.

Verse 9

Sing ye that on white asses ride. And now secure in judgment sit. Ye travelers join the sacred song, Who safely go where ye think fit.

Verse 10

Ye that from the archer's noise are freed, Lurking at every watering place, Jehovah's righteous doings, now May there rehearse, in songs of praise:

Verse 11

The truly gracious actions he To Israels villages hath shown; That now the people of the Lord, Safe to their borders, may go down.

Verse 12

Wake Deborah, wake, excite thy powers, His fame, in sacred hymns, to spread; Rise, Barak, thou Abinoam's son, Thy captive foes, in triumph, lead.

Verse 13

Thus Carman's nobles he reduced, And put beneath his remnant's feet; The Lord, to my dominion, forced Their mighty captains to submit.

Verse 14

From Ephraim's mount there came a root, Which with fierce Amalek engaged. Benjamin followed close, and joined His forces, where the battle raged.

Verse 15

From Machir's stock, renowned of old, There come great captains, famous men; And Zebulun sent such as knew To wield the sword, and use the pen.

Verse 16

The noble lords of Isachar To Deborah their forces led; On foot they marched down to the vale, With gallant Barak at their head.

Verse 17

But Reuben separate remained, Distant in mind, much more than parts; The conduct of which potent tribe Made great impressions on our hearts.

Verse 18

Didst fear the losing of thy sheep, That thou among the sheepfolds stayed? Thee, has the bleating of thy flocks, To base neutrality betrayed?

Verse 19

Truly thy conduct, Reuben, who So wholly separate remained; And would not join so good a cause, Our hearts has grieved, thy glory stained.

Verse 20

So beyond Jordan, Gilead stayed: And why did Dan in ships abide? While Ashur clung to his sea shore, To hide in creeks, or curb the tide.

Verse 21

But Zebulun, and Naphtali, Were ready, for the public good, In the high places of the field, To risk their lives, and spend their blood.

Verse 22

Confederate kings of Canaan came, With Jabin joined, and for him sought, In Tannach, by Megiddo's stream; But lost the booty which they fought.

Verse 23

They fought from heaven, the marshaled stars, Each active in their stated course, Exert their influence, and fought; Against proud Sisera bent their force.

Verse 24

The River Kishon swept them off; That ancient river, here well known A brook, now to a river swollen: Thou, O my soul, hast strength trod down?

Verse 25

The fierce encounters of their horse, In hasty flight, each other wound; Their speed is stopped, they tumbling cast Their mighty riders to the ground.

Verse 26

Curse Meroz, said God's angel, Curse All bitterly to her belong; For they refused to help the Lord, To aid his arms against the strong.

Verse 27

Blessed Jael Kenite Heber's wife, Shall be above all women-kind; Her fame, beyond her sex, shall spread, In every tent, to every wind.

Verse 28

He water asked; to quench his thirst, She gave him milk, beyond his wish: She brought forth butter to regale, And served him in a lordly dish.

Verse 29

She took the tent nail in her hand, Her right hand seized the hammer fast; Through Sisera's temples drove the spike, And then cut off his head at last.

Verse 30

He started, staggered, in a maze, He fell, down at her feet lay spread; Close at her feet he bowed, he fell, There where he bowed, he fell down dead.

Verse 31

His mother through the window looked, And cried, impatient for her son, Why does his chariot stay so long? Why do the wheels so slowly run?

Verse 32

Her prudent ladies answered her; Yea, eager, she herself replied,

Verse 33

Have they not sped? and now a prey, To each a maid or two, divide?

Verse 34

Isn't Sisera choosing, from the spoils, Rich robes, which beauteous colors deck, Of needlework, on either side, Fit to adorn the conqueror's neck?

Verse 35

So, Lord, may all thine enemies In ruin sink, and perish quite: But those that love thee, like the sun Be when he marcheth in his might.