5:1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this victory song: 1
5:2 “When the leaders took the lead 2 in Israel,
When the people answered the call to war –
Praise the Lord!
5:3 Hear, O kings!
Pay attention, O rulers!
I will sing to the Lord! 3
I will sing 4 to the Lord God of Israel!
5:4 O Lord, when you departed 5 from Seir,
when you marched from Edom’s plains,
the earth shook, the heavens poured down,
the clouds poured down rain. 6
5:5 The mountains trembled 7 before the Lord, the God of Sinai; 8
before the Lord God of Israel.
5:6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael caravans 9 disappeared; 10
travelers 11 had to go on winding side roads.
5:7 Warriors 12 were scarce, 13
they were scarce in Israel,
until you 14 arose, Deborah,
until you arose as a motherly protector 15 in Israel.
5:8 God chose new leaders, 16
then fighters appeared in the city gates; 17
but, I swear, not a shield or spear could be found, 18
among forty military units 19 in Israel.
5:9 My heart went out 20 to Israel’s leaders,
to the people who answered the call to war.
Praise the Lord!
5:10 You who ride on light-colored female donkeys,
who sit on saddle blankets, 21
you who walk on the road, pay attention!
5:11 Hear 22 the sound of those who divide the sheep 23 among the watering places;
there they tell of 24 the Lord’s victorious deeds,
the victorious deeds of his warriors 25 in Israel.
Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates –
5:12 Wake up, wake up, Deborah!
Wake up, wake up, sing a song!
Get up, Barak!
Capture your prisoners of war, 26 son of Abinoam!
5:13 Then the survivors 27 came down 28 to the mighty ones; 29
the Lord’s people came down to me 30 as 31 warriors.
5:14 They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, 32
they follow 33 after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers.
From Makir leaders came down,
from Zebulun came 34 the ones who march carrying 35 an officer’s staff.
5:15 Issachar’s leaders were with Deborah,
the men of Issachar 36 supported 37 Barak;
into the valley they were sent under Barak’s command. 38
Among the clans of Reuben there was intense 39 heart searching. 40
5:16 Why do you remain among the sheepfolds, 41
listening to the shepherds playing their pipes 42 for their flocks? 43
As for the clans of Reuben – there was intense searching of heart.