The Song of Deborah and Barak
(Deuteronomy 32:1-47)
1Then sangDeborahand Barakthe sonof Abinoamon that day,saying,
2Praiseye the LORDfor the avengingof Israel,when the peoplewillingly offeredthemselves.
3Hear,O ye kings;give ear,O ye princes;I, [even] I, will singunto the LORD;I will sing[praise] to the LORDGodof Israel.
4LORD,when thou wentest outof Seir,when thou marchedst outof the fieldof Edom,the earthtrembled,and the heavensdropped,the cloudsalso droppedwater.
5The mountainsmeltedfrom beforethe LORD,[even] that Sinaifrom beforethe LORDGodof Israel.
6In the daysof Shamgarthe sonof Anath,in the daysof Jael,the highwayswere unoccupied,and the travellerswalkedthrough byways.
7[The inhabitants of] the villagesceased,they ceasedin Israel,until that I Deboraharose,that I arosea motherin Israel.
8They chosenewgods;then [was] warin the gates:was there a shieldor spearseenamong fortythousandin Israel?
9My heart[is] toward the governorsof Israel,that offered themselves willinglyamong the people.Blessye the LORD.
10Speak,ye that rideon whiteasses,ye that sitin judgment,and walkby the way.
11[They that are delivered] from the noiseof archersin the places of drawing water,there shall they rehearsethe righteous actsof the LORD,[even] the righteous acts[toward the inhabitants] of his villagesin Israel:then shall the peopleof the LORDgo downto the gates.
12Awake,awake,Deborah:awake,awake,uttera song:arise,Barak,and lead thy captivitycaptive,thou sonof Abinoam.
13Then he made him that remainethhave dominionover the noblesamong the people:the LORDmade me have dominionover the mighty.
14Out of Ephraim[was there] a rootof them against Amalek;afterthee, Benjamin,among thy people;out of Machircame downgovernors,and out of Zebulunthey that handlethe penof the writer.
15And the princesof Issachar[were] with Deborah;even Issachar,and also Barak:he was senton footinto the valley.For the divisionsof Reuben[there were] greatthoughtsof heart.
16Why abodestthou amongthe sheepfolds,to hearthe bleatingsof the flocks?For the divisionsof Reuben[there were] greatsearchingsof heart.
17GileadabodebeyondJordan:and why did Danremainin ships?Ashercontinuedon the seashore,and abodein his breaches.
18Zebulunand Naphtali[were] a people[that] jeopardedtheir livesunto the deathin the high placesof the field.
19The kingscame[and] fought,then foughtthe kingsof Canaanin Taanachby the watersof Megiddo;they tookno gainof money.
20They foughtfrom heaven;the starsin their coursesfoughtagainst Sisera.
21The riverof Kishonswept them away,that ancientriver,the riverKishon.O my soul,thou hast trodden downstrength.
22Then were the horsehoofsbrokenby the means of the pransings,the pransingsof their mighty ones.
23Curseye Meroz,saidthe angelof the LORD,curseye bitterlythe inhabitantsthereof; because they camenot to the helpof the LORD,to the helpof the LORDagainst the mighty.
24Blessedabove womenshall Jaelthe wifeof Heberthe Kenitebe, blessedshall she be above womenin the tent.
25He askedwater,[and] she gave[him] milk;she brought forthbutterin a lordlydish.
26She puther handto the nail,and her right handto the workmen'shammer;and with the hammer she smoteSisera,she smote offhis head,when she had piercedand stricken throughhis temples.
27At her feethe bowed,he fell,he lay down:at her feethe bowed,he fell:wherehe bowed,there he fell downdead.
28The motherof Siseralookedout at a window,and criedthrough the lattice,Why is his chariot[so] longin coming?why tarrythe wheelsof his chariots?
29Her wiseladiesansweredher, yea, she returnedanswerto herself,
30Have they not sped?have they [not] dividedthe prey;to everymana damsel[or] two;to Siseraa preyof divers colours,a preyof divers coloursof needlework,of divers coloursof needlework on both sides,[meet] for the necksof [them that take] the spoil?
31So let all thine enemiesperish,O LORD:but [let] them that lovehim [be] as the sunwhen he goeth forthin his might.And the landhad restfortyyears.
