The Triumphant Song of Deborah and Barak

Verse 1

In that he Israel hath reveng'd, Bless ye therefore the Lord:

Verse 2

In that the people offered Themselves of free accord.

Verse 3

Give ear, O kings, ye princes hear, Sing to the Lord I will; I, even I'll sing to the Lord, The God of Israel.

Verse 4

Lord, when thou went'st from Seir, when thou Didst march from Edom's field; The earth did shake, the heav'ns did drop, The clouds their show'rs distill'd.

Verse 5

Before the presence of the Lord, The mountains melting fell; Ev'n Sina, from before the Lord, The God of Israel.

Verse 6

In days of Shamgar, Anath's son, High-ways in Jael's days, Untrodden were: the passengers Did travel through by-ways.

Verse 7

The villagers did cease to be, They ceas'd in Israel: Till that I Deb'rah rose; I rose A mother in Israel.

Verse 8

New gods they chase, then cruel wars Entred their gates within, With forty thousand Isra'lites No shield nor spear was seen.

Verse 9

My heart to Israel's rulers is, Who did of free accord Present themfelves among the folk: Bless ye therefore the Lord.

Verse 10

Speak ye your minds, all ye that do Upon while asses ride; Ye that in judgment sit, and ye That walk the way beside.

Verse 11

Who from the archer's noise are freed, There shall they now record, In places where they water draw, The just acts of the Lord. His righteous acts to them who dwell In Israel's towns relate, Then shall the people of the Lord Go down unto the gate.

Verse 12

Wake, wake, O Deborah, wake, awake, A song sing; Barak rise; Abinoam's son, and captive lead, Thou thy captivities.

Verse 13

Unto the remnant he gave rule Above the nobles then Among the folk: the Lord gave me Rule over mighty men.

Verse 14

From Ephraim a root against Proud Amalek there was. Thy followers, O Benjamin, Among thy folk did pass, From out of Machir governours Deseended also then, And out of Zebulun came they That handle writer's pen.

Verse 15

Then Issachar, ev'n Issachar, His peers with Deborah went, And also Barak was on foot, Into the valley sent. Because of those divisions that In Ruben did appear, Great fears and anxious thoughts of heart Among us then there were.

Verse 16

Why didst, thou with the sheep-folds stay The bleating flocks to hear? For Ruben his divisions sad Heart-searchings great there were.

Verse 17

Gilead by Jordan stay'd; and why Did Dan in ships reside? On sea-shore Amur why remain, And in his creeks abide?

Verse 18

But Zebulun and Napthali Were people who did yield Their lives in danger unto death In the high open field.

Verse 19

The kings came and they fought, then fought The kings of Canaan, In Tanach by Megiddo's streams; No money prize they wan.

Verse 20

From heav'n they fought, the stars by course Fought against Sisera:

Verse 21

Then Kishon's brook, old Kishon's brook, That brook them swept away. O thou my soul hast trod down strength.

Verse 22

Then broke their horse-hoofs were; By pransing, trampling, pransings of Their mighty horses there.

Verse 23

Curse Meroz, curse her dwellers, curse, Jehovah's angel said: For they came not to aid the Lord, Against the strong to aid.

Verse 24

Jael the Kenite, Heber's wife, 'Bove women bless shall be: Above the women in the tent, A blesed one is she.

Verse 25

He water ask'd; she gave him milk, Him butter forth she fetch'd

Verse 26

In lordly dish: then to the nail, She forth her left hand stretch'd; Her right the workman's hammer held, And Sisera struck dead: She pierc'd and struck his temples through, And then smote off his head.

Verse 27

He at her feet bow'd, fell, lay down, He at her feet bow'd, where He fell: ev'n where he bowed down, He fell destroyed there.

Verse 28

Out of a window Sisera His mother look'd, and said, The lattess through, in coming why So long his chariot staid ? His chariot-wheels why tarry they?

Verse 29

Her ladies wise reply'd, Yea to herself the answer made,

Verse 30

Have they not sped? she cry'd The prey to each, a maid or twain, Divided have not they? To Sifera have they not shar'd A divers-colour'd prey? Of divers colour'd needle-work, Wrought curious on each side, Of various colours, meet for necks Of those who spoils divide?

Verse 31

So perish let thine enemies all, O Lord; but let all those Who do him love, be like the sun That in his strength forth goes.