Judges 5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 5
Song of Deborah. 1 (A)On that day Deborah sang this song—and Barak, son of Abinoam:
2 [a]When uprising broke out in Israel,
when the people rallied for duty—bless the Lord!
3 Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!
I will sing, I will sing to the Lord,
I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 [b](B)Lord, when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the plains of Edom,
The earth shook, the heavens poured,
the clouds poured rain,
5 The mountains streamed,
before the Lord, the One of Sinai,
before the Lord, the God of Israel.
6 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,(C)
in the days of Jael, caravans ceased:
Those who traveled the roads
now traveled by roundabout paths.(D)
7 Gone was freedom beyond the walls,
gone indeed from Israel.
When I, Deborah, arose,
when I arose, a mother in Israel.[c]
8 New gods were their choice;
then war was at the gates.
No shield was to be found, no spear,
among forty thousand in Israel!
9 My heart is with the leaders of Israel,
with the dedicated ones of the people—bless the Lord;
10 Those who ride on white donkeys,
seated on saddle rugs,
and those who travel the road,
Sing of them
11 to the sounds of musicians at the wells.
There they recount the just deeds of the Lord,
his just deeds bringing freedom to Israel.
12 Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, strike up a song!
Arise, Barak!
Take captive your captors, son of Abinoam!
13 Then down went Israel against the mighty,
the army of the Lord went down for him against the warriors.
14 [d]From Ephraim, their base in the valley;
behind you, Benjamin, among your troops.
From Machir came down commanders,
from Zebulun wielders of the marshal’s staff.
15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah,
Issachar, faithful to Barak;
in the valley they followed at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
great were the searchings of heart!
16 Why did you stay beside your hearths
listening to the lowing of the herds?
Among the clans of Reuben
great were the searchings of heart!
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
Why did Dan spend his time in ships?
Asher remained along the shore,
he stayed in his havens.
18 Zebulun was a people who defied death,
Naphtali, too, on the open heights!(E)
19 The kings came and fought;
then they fought, those kings of Canaan,
At Taanach by the waters of Megiddo;
no spoil of silver did they take.
20 From the heavens the stars[e] fought;
from their courses they fought against Sisera.(F)
21 The Wadi Kishon swept them away;
the wadi overwhelmed them, the Wadi Kishon.(G)
Trample down the strong![f]
22 Then the hoofs of the horses hammered,
the galloping, galloping of steeds.
23 “Curse Meroz,”[g] says the messenger of the Lord,
“curse, curse its inhabitants!
For they did not come when the Lord helped,
the help of the Lord against the warriors.”
24 Most blessed of women is Jael,(H)
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
blessed among tent-dwelling women!
25 He asked for water, she gave him milk,
in a princely bowl she brought him curds.(I)
26 (J)With her hand she reached for the peg,
with her right hand, the workman’s hammer.
She hammered Sisera, crushed his head;
she smashed, pierced his temple.
27 At her feet he sank down, fell, lay still;
down at her feet he sank and fell;
where he sank down, there he fell, slain.
28 [h]From the window she looked down,
the mother of Sisera peered through the lattice:
“Why is his chariot so long in coming?
why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?”
29 The wisest of her princesses answers her;
she even replies to herself,
30 “They must be dividing the spoil they took:
a slave woman or two for each man,
Spoil of dyed cloth for Sisera,
spoil of ornate dyed cloth,
a pair of ornate dyed cloths for my neck in the spoil.”
31 So perish all your enemies, O Lord!(K)
But may those who love you be like the sun rising in its might!
And the land was at rest for forty years.(L)
Footnotes
- 5:2–31 This canticle is an excellent example of early Hebrew poetry, even though some of its verses are now obscure.
- 5:4–5 The Lord himself marches to war in support of Israel. Storm and earthquake are part of the traditional imagery of theophany; cf. Ex 19:16, 18–20; Dt 33:2–3; Ps 18:7–15; 77:17–20; 144:5–7.
- 5:7 A mother in Israel: the precise meaning of the term “mother” is unclear, except that it seems to indicate Deborah’s position of leadership, and so may be a title (cf. 2 Sm 20:19).
- 5:14–22 The poet praises the tribes that participated in the war against Sisera: Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (later regarded as a clan of Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, the tribe of Barak (cf. 4:6). By contrast, the tribes of Reuben, Gilead (elsewhere a region occupied by Reubenites and Gadites), Dan, and Asher are chided for their lack of participation. The more distant tribes of Judah and Simeon are not mentioned, and some historians believe they were not part of Israel at this time.
- 5:20–21 Stars: the heavenly host, or angelic army. The roles played by the stars and the flash floods underscore the divine involvement in the battle (cf. 5:4–5).
- 5:21 Trample down the strong!: the meaning of these words is obscure. If this interpretation is correct, Deborah is the one addressed.
- 5:23 Meroz: an unknown locality in which Israelites probably resided, since its inhabitants are cursed for their failure to participate in the battle.
- 5:28–30 The scene shifts to the household of the slain Canaanite general, where the anxious foreboding of Sisera’s mother is countered by the assurances of the noblewomen.
Judges 5
New Living Translation
The Song of Deborah
5 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 “Israel’s leaders took charge,
and the people gladly followed.
Praise the Lord!
3 “Listen, you kings!
Pay attention, you mighty rulers!
For I will sing to the Lord.
I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when you set out from Seir
and marched across the fields of Edom,
the earth trembled,
and the cloudy skies poured down rain.
5 The mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord,
the God of Mount Sinai—
in the presence of the Lord,
the God of Israel.
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.
7 There were few people left in the villages of Israel[a]—
until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.
8 When 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!
9 My 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.
11 Listen to the village musicians[b]
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.
12 “Wake up, Deborah, wake up!
Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!
Arise, Barak!
Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
13 “Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.
The people of the Lord marched down against mighty warriors.
14 They 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.
15 The 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.[c]
16 Why 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.
17 Gilead remained east of the Jordan.
And why did Dan stay home?
Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,
remaining in his harbors.
18 But Zebulun risked his life,
as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
19 “The kings of Canaan came and fought,
at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs,
but they carried off no silver treasures.
20 The stars fought from heaven.
The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
21 The Kishon River swept them away—
that ancient torrent, the Kishon.
March on with courage, my soul!
22 Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground,
the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds.
23 ‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord.
‘Let them be utterly cursed,
because they did not come to help the Lord—
to help the Lord against the mighty warriors.’
24 “Most blessed among women is Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite.
May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.
25 Sisera asked for water,
and she gave him milk.
In a bowl fit for nobles,
she brought him yogurt.
26 Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg,
and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer.
She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head.
With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.
27 He sank, he fell,
he lay still at her feet.
And where he sank,
there he died.
28 “From the window Sisera’s mother looked out.
Through the window she watched for his return, saying,
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?’
29 “Her wise women answer,
and she repeats these words to herself:
30 ‘They must be dividing the captured plunder—
with a woman or two for every man.
There will be colorful robes for Sisera,
and colorful, embroidered robes for me.
Yes, the plunder will include
colorful robes embroidered on both sides.’
31 “Lord, may all your enemies die like Sisera!
But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!”
Then there was peace in the land for forty years.
Judges 5
New King James Version
The Song of Deborah
5 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam (A)sang on that day, saying:
2 “When[a] leaders (B)lead in Israel,
(C)When the people [b]willingly offer themselves,
Bless the Lord!
3 “Hear,(D) O kings! Give ear, O princes!
I, even (E)I, will sing to the Lord;
I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
4 “Lord, (F)when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from (G)the field of Edom,
The earth trembled and the heavens poured,
The clouds also poured water;
5 (H)The mountains [c]gushed before the Lord,
(I)This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.
6 “In the days of (J)Shamgar, son of Anath,
In the days of (K)Jael,
(L)The highways were deserted,
And the travelers walked along the byways.
7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose (M)new gods;
Then there was war in the gates;
Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel
Who offered themselves willingly with the people.
Bless the Lord!
10 “Speak, you who ride on white (N)donkeys,
Who sit in judges’ attire,
And who walk along the road.
11 Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord,
The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel;
Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates.
12 “Awake,(O) awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away,
O son of Abinoam!
13 “Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles;
The Lord came down for me against the mighty.
14 From Ephraim were those whose roots were in (P)Amalek.
After you, Benjamin, with your peoples,
From Machir rulers came down,
And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.
15 And [d]the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
As Issachar, so was Barak
Sent into the valley [e]under his command;
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great resolves of heart.
16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds,
To hear the pipings for the flocks?
The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.
17 (Q)Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan,
And why did Dan remain [f]on ships?
(R)Asher continued at the seashore,
And stayed by his inlets.
18 (S)Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death,
Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.
19 “The kings came and fought,
Then the kings of Canaan fought
In (T)Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo;
They took no spoils of silver.
20 They fought from the heavens;
The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.
21 (U)The torrent of Kishon swept them away,
That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon.
O my soul, march on in strength!
22 Then the horses’ hooves pounded,
The galloping, galloping of his steeds.
23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the [g]angel of the Lord,
‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly,
Because they did not come to the help of the Lord,
To the help of the Lord against the mighty.’
24 “Most blessed among women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
(V)Blessed is she among women in tents.
25 He asked for water, she gave milk;
She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.
26 She stretched her hand to the tent peg,
Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer;
She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head,
She split and struck through his temple.
27 At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still;
At her feet he sank, he fell;
Where he sank, there he fell (W)dead.
28 “The mother of Sisera looked through the window,
And cried out through the lattice,
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’
29 Her wisest [h]ladies answered her,
Yes, she [i]answered herself,
30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil:
To every man a girl or two;
For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments,
Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed,
Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’
31 “Thus let all Your enemies (X)perish, O Lord!
But let those who love Him be (Y)like the (Z)sun
When it comes out in full (AA)strength.”
So the land had rest for forty years.
Footnotes
- Judges 5:2 Or When locks are loosed
- Judges 5:2 volunteer
- Judges 5:5 flowed
- Judges 5:15 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT And my princes in Issachar
- Judges 5:15 Lit. at his feet
- Judges 5:17 Or at ease
- Judges 5:23 Or Angel
- Judges 5:29 princesses
- Judges 5:29 Lit. repeats her words to herself
Gjyqtarët 5
Albanian Bible
5 Atë ditë Debora këndoi këtë kantik me Barakun, birin e Abinoamit, duke thënë:
2 "Me qenë se krerët kanë marrë komandën në Izrael, me qenë se populli është ofruar spontanisht, bekoni Zotin!
3 Dëgjoni, o mbretër! Vini veshë, o princa! Unë, pikërisht unë, do t’i këndoj Zotit, do të këndoj lavdinë e Zotit, Perëndisë së Izraelit.
4 O Zot, kur dole nga Seiri, kur po kapërceje fushat e Edomit, toka u drodh dhe pikoi nga qiejtë; po, pikoi ujë nga retë.
5 Malet u shkrinë para Zotit, vetë Sinai u drodh para Zotit, Perëndisë të Izraelit.
6 Në kohën e Shamgarit, birit të Anathit, në kohën e Jaeles rrugët ishin të shkreta, dhe kalimtarët ndiqnin shtigje dredha-dredha.
7 Mungonin krerë në Izrael; po, mungonin, deri sa nuk dola unë, Debora, si nënë në Izrael.
8 Ata zgjidhnin perëndi të tjera, kur lufta ishte te pragu. Nuk shihej asnjë mburojë apo shtizë midis dyzet mijë burrave të Izraelit.
9 Zemra ime është me ata udhëheqës të Izraelit që u ofruan spontanisht në mes të popullit. Bekoni Zotin!
10 Ju që shkoni hipur mbi gomarë të bardha, ju që rrini ulur mbi qilima të shtrenjtë, dhe ju që ecni nëpër rrugë, këndoni!
11 Larg britmave të harkëtarëve, larg koritave, të kremtojnë veprat e drejta të Zotit, veprat e drejta për krerët e tij në Izrael! Atëherë populli i Zotit zbriti në portat.
12 Zgjohu, zgjohu, o Debora! Zgjohu, zgjohu, dhe merrja një kënge! Çohu, o Barak, dhe çoji larg robërit e tu, o bir i Abinoamit!
13 Atëherë iu dha qeverimi mbi fisnikët e popullit atyre që kishin mbetur; Zoti ma dha mua qeverimin midis të fuqishmëve.
14 Nga Efraimi erdhën ata që i kishin rrënjët tek Amaleku; në suitën tënde, Beniamin, midis njerëzve të tu; nga Makir i zbritën disa krerë dhe nga Zabuloni ata që mbajnë shkopin e komandimit.
15 Princat e Isakarit erdhën me Deboran; ashtu siç ishte Isakari, kështu qe edhe Baraku; ata u hodhën në luginë në gjurmët e saj. Ndër divizionet e Rubenit, të mëdha ishin vendimet e zemrës!
16 Pse mbete ti midis të ngujuarve për të dëgjuar fyellin e barinjve? Midis divizioneve të Rubenit, të mëdha ishin vendimet e zemrës!
17 Galaadi ndaloi matanë Jordanit; po Dani pse mbeti mbi anijet? Asheri u vendos pranë bregut të detit dhe mbeti në portet e tij.
18 Zabuloni është një popull që ka vënë në rrezik jetën e tij deri në vdekje, po kështu edhe Neftali në zonat e larta të fushës.
19 Mbretërit erdhën dhe luftuan; atëherë luftuan mbretërit e Kanaanit dhe të Taanakit, pranë ujërave të Megidos; por nuk suallën asnjë plaçkë prej argjendi.
20 Nga qielli luftuan yjet, gjatë lëvizjes së tyre luftuan kundër Siseras.
21 Përroi Kishon i përmbysi, përroi i vjetër, përroi i Kishonit. Shpirti im, vepro me forcë!
22 Atëherë thundrat e kuajve trokëllinin me forcë në galop, në galopin e pitokëve të tyre.
23 "Mallkoni Merozin," tha Engjëlli i Zotit, "mallkoni, mallkoni banorët e tij, sepse nuk i shkuan në ndihmë Zotit, në ndihmë të Zotit në mes të trimave të tij!".
24 E bekuar qoftë midis grave Jaela, gruaja e Heberit, Keneut! Qoftë e bekuar midis grave që banojnë në çadra!
25 Ai kërkoi ujë dhe ajo i dha qumësht; në një kupë princash i ofroi ajkë.
26 Me një dorë kapi kunjin dhe me dorën e djathtë çekiçin e artizanëve; e goditi Siseran, i çau kokën dhe ia shpoi tejpërtej tëmthat.
27 Te këmbët e saj ai u këput, ra dhe u dergj pa shpirt; në këmbët e saj u këput dhe ra; aty ku u këput, aty ra i vdekur.
28 E ëma e Siseras shikoi nga dritarja dhe thirri nga hekurat e saj: "Pse qerrja jote po vonon aq shumë të vijë? Pse ecin kaq ngadalë qerret e tij?".
29 Gratë e saj më të urta iu përgjegjën, dhe ajo përsëriti me vete fjalët e saj:
30 "Ata kanë gjetur plaçkë dhe janë duke e ndarë në pjesë. Për çdo burrë një ose dy vajza; për Siseran një plaçkë me rroba shumëngjyrëshe, një plaçkë me rroba shumëngjyrëshe dhe të qëndisura, me rroba shumëngjyrëshe dhe të qëndisura nga të dy anët për shpatullat e atyre që bartin tutje plaçkën".
31 Kështu u zhdukshin të gjithë armiqtë e tu, o Zot! Por ata që të duan qofshin si dielli, kur lind me gjithë forcën e tij!". Pastaj vendi pati qetësi për dyzet vjet me radhë.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
