The Bible
Judges Chapter 5
1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, 2"Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, ForeverOne
3"Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, [even] I, will sing to ForeverOne
4"ForeverOne
5The mountains quaked at the presence of ForeverOne
6"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.
7The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.
8They chose new gods
9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ForeverOne
10"Tell [of it], you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk along the road.
11Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the righteous acts of ForeverOne
12'Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.' 13"Then a remnant of the nobles [and] the people came down. ForeverOne
14Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal's staff came out of Zebulun.
15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.
16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
17Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.
18Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the deaths; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
19"The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.
20From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.
21The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.
22Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.
23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of ForeverOne
25He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
26She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.
27At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28"Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera's mother looked through the lattice. 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?' 29Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself, 30'Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, a spoil of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?' 31"So let all your enemies perish, ForeverOne
The Bible text is a minor adaptation of the WEB
to include nuanced meanings of particular ancient words for placenames, God and others of special interest.
In general square brackets:[] are used to indicated words not found in the original text.
They also indicate the 5 books of the Psalms, and the letters in Psalm 119;
and a few passages considered by some to be of questionable authenticity, marked with an asterisk(*).