Judges 5
Expanded Bible
The Song of Deborah
5 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 “·The leaders led Israel [or When locks of hair grow in Israel; C referring to the keeping of a Nazirite vow (Num. 6:5); the Hebrew here is obscure].
The ·people [nation] ·volunteered to go to battle [answered the call; offered themselves willingly].
·Praise [Bless] the Lord!
3 Listen, kings.
Pay attention, rulers!
I ·myself [even I] will sing to the Lord.
I will ·make music [or sing praises] to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when you came from Seir [C another name for Edom],
when you marched from the ·land [or fields] of Edom,
the earth shook,
the ·skies [heavens] ·rained [poured; dropped],
and the clouds ·dropped [poured] water.
5 The mountains ·shook [quaked] before the Lord, the God of Mount Sinai,
before the Lord, the God of Israel!
6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath [3:31],
in the days of Jael, the ·main roads were empty [highways were deserted; or caravans were no more].
Travelers went on ·the back roads [winding paths; C because of Canaanite robbers on the highways].
7 ·There were no warriors in Israel [or The villagers/peasants would not fight; or The villagers deserted their villages]
until ·I [or you], Deborah, arose,
until ·I [or you] arose to be a mother to Israel.
8 At that time ·they chose to follow new gods [or God chose new leaders/warriors].
Because of this, ·enemies fought us at our [war came to the] city gates.
·No one could find a shield or a spear [L A shield, it could not be seen, nor a spear]
among the forty thousand people of Israel.
9 My heart is with the ·commanders [leaders; princes] of Israel.
·They volunteered freely [or And with those who volunteered freely] from among the people.
·Praise [Bless] the Lord!
10 “You who ride on white [L female] donkeys
and sit on ·saddle blankets [or rich carpets],
and you who walk along the road, ·listen [ponder this; or tell of this]!
11 Listen to the sound of the ·singers [village musicians; or those who distribute the water; or those who divide the sheep]
at the watering holes.
There they tell about the ·victories [or righteous deeds/triumphs] of the Lord,
the ·victories [or righteous deeds/triumphs] of the Lord’s ·warriors [or villagers; peasantry] in Israel.
Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates.
12 “Wake up, wake up, Deborah!
Wake up, wake up, sing a song!
Get up, Barak!
·Go capture your enemies [L Take captive your captives], son of Abinoam!
13 “Then ·those who were left [the remnant/survivors] ·came down to the important leaders [or of the nobles/leaders came down].
The Lord’s people came down to me ·with strong men [or against the mighty].
14 They came from Ephraim ·in the mountains of [or whose roots were in; or who uprooted] Amalek.
·Benjamin was among the people who followed you [or They follow you, Benjamin, with your people/soldiers].
From ·the family group of Makir [L Makir], the commanders came down.
And from Zebulun came those who ·lead [L carry the officer’s/commander’s staff].
15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.
The people of Issachar were loyal to Barak
and ·followed him [were sent under his command; L were sent at his feet] into the valley.
·The Reubenites [L Among the clans of Reuben they] ·thought hard
about what they would do [greatly searched their hearts; or had great indecision].
16 Why did you stay by the sheepfold?
Was it to hear the ·music played [whistling] for your ·sheep [flocks]?
·The Reubenites [L Among the clans of Reuben they] ·thought hard
about what they would do [greatly searched their hearts; or had great indecision].
17 ·The people of Gilead [L Gilead; C the grandson of Manasseh, though the term is used for the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan] stayed east of the Jordan River.
·People of Dan [L Dan; 1:34], why did you stay by the ships [C Dan remained on the Mediterranean coast rather than help in the battle]?
The people of Asher stayed at the seashore,
at their ·safe harbors [coves; landings].
18 But the people of Zebulun ·risked their lives [L despised their lives even to death],
as did the people of Naphtali on the ·battlefield [L heights of the field].
19 “The kings came, and they fought.
At that time the kings of Canaan fought
at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo.
But they took away no ·silver or possessions of Israel [plunder of silver].
20 The stars fought from heaven [C personified as God’s army];
from their ·paths [courses], they fought Sisera.
21 The Kishon River swept Sisera’s men away,
that ·old river [ancient torrent], the Kishon ·River [torrent; C a rainstorm sent from God swelled the river].
March on, my soul, with strength!
22 Then the horses’ hoofs ·beat [pounded] the ground.
Galloping, galloping go Sisera’s ·mighty horses [stallions; steeds; L mighty ones].
23 ‘·May the town of Meroz be cursed [L Curse Meroz],’ said the angel of the Lord.
‘·Bitterly curse [Utterly curse; L Curse a curse upon] its ·people [inhabitants],
because they did not come to help the Lord.
·They did not fight the strong enemy [To help the Lord against the warriors/mighty ones].’
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,
but Jael gave him milk.
In a bowl fit for a ·ruler [noble; king],
she brought him ·cream [or curds].
26 Jael reached out her hand and took the tent peg.
Her right hand reached for the workman’s hammer.
She ·hit [struck] Sisera! She ·smashed [crushed] his head!
She ·crushed [shattered] and pierced ·the side of his head [his temple/or mouth]!
27 ·At [or Between] Jael’s feet he ·sank [bowed].
He fell, and he lay there.
·At [or Between] her feet he ·sank [bowed]. He fell.
Where Sisera ·sank [bowed], there he fell, dead!
28 “Sisera’s mother looked out through the window.
She looked through the ·curtains [lattice] and cried out,
‘Why is Sisera’s chariot so late in coming?
Why are ·sounds of his chariots’ horses [L the chariots’ hoofbeats] delayed?’
29 The wisest of her ·servant ladies [or princesses] answer her,
·and [indeed] Sisera’s mother says to herself,
30 ‘Surely they are ·robbing the people they defeated and dividing those things among themselves [L finding and dividing the spoil]!
Each soldier is given a ·girl [L womb; C slang for women] or two.
·Maybe Sisera is taking [L For Sisera a plunder of] ·pieces of dyed cloth [or colorful garments].
·Maybe they are even taking [L For spoil/plunder]
pieces of dyed, embroidered cloth for the necks of the ·victors [plunderers]!’
31 “·Let [May] all your enemies ·die [perish] this way, Lord!
But ·let [may] all the people who love you
be ·as strong as the rising sun [L like the sun rising in its strength]!”
Then there was ·peace [rest] in the land for forty years.
Judges 5
King James Version
5 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
2 Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
4 Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
5 The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.
6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord.
10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.
12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.
14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
31 So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest 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
Jueces 5
Traducción en lenguaje actual
La canción de Débora y Barac
5 Aquel día Débora y Barac cantaron esta canción:
2 «¡Den gracias a Dios, jefes israelitas!
¡Den gracias a Dios todos ustedes,
pues se dispusieron a luchar por él!
3 »¡Préstenme atención
reyes y gobernantes!
Mi canto y mi música
son para el verdadero Dios,
el Dios de Israel.
4 »Cuando tú, mi Dios,
te fuiste de Seír,
cuando te marchaste
de los campos de Edom,
la tierra tembló,
el cielo se estremeció,
y las nubes dejaron caer su lluvia.
5 El monte Sinaí
y todas las montañas
temblaron ante el Dios de Israel.
6 »En la época de Samgar y de Jael,
eran muy peligrosos los caminos,
la gente andaba por veredas angostas;
7 los campesinos no podían cultivar sus tierras.
Entonces yo, Débora,
me levanté para defender a Israel,
como defiende una madre a sus hijos.
8 »Dios mío,
cuando nos enviaste la guerra
por haber adorado a otros dioses,
de entre cuarenta mil soldados
no se levantó ningún valiente.
9 »Te doy gracias, Dios mío,
y felicito a los jefes de Israel,
a los pocos valientes
que se ofrecieron a luchar.
10 »¡Canten victoria todos ustedes,
los pobres y los ricos de Israel!
11 ¡En todo rincón de la ciudad
el pueblo celebra los triunfos de Dios,
y las victorias de su pueblo Israel!
12 »¡Arriba, Débora, vamos!
¡Canta una canción!
¡Vamos, Barac hijo de Abinóam!
¡Encierra a tus prisioneros!
13 »Los jefes israelitas bajaron,
y se unieron al pueblo de Dios
para luchar contra el poderoso enemigo.
14 De la tierra de los amalecitas
bajaron los de Efraín;
detrás de ti, Débora,
marcharon los de Benjamín.
Se te unieron los jefes de Maquir,
y los gobernantes de Zabulón.
15 Los jefes de Isacar te acompañaron,
y apoyaron a Barac
en la batalla del valle.
Pero los de la tribu de Rubén
16 prefirieron quedarse a cuidar las ovejas,
que acompañarte a la batalla.
17 Las tribus al otro lado del Jordán
se quedaron en sus tierras de Galaad.
Los de Dan y de Aser
se quedaron en los puertos,
cuidando sus barcos.
18 Pero los de Zabulón y Neftalí
arriesgaron sus vidas
en los campos de batalla.
19 »Luego, en Taanac,
junto al arroyo Meguido,
vinieron a pelear los reyes cananeos.
Pero volvieron con las manos vacías.
20 ¡Hasta las estrellas del cielo
lucharon contra Sísara!
21 El antiguo arroyo de Quisón
barrió con todos nuestros enemigos.
»¡Adelante, siempre adelante!
¡Yo, Débora, marcharé con poder!
22 »Los caballos de Sísara
salieron a galope tendido;
¡sus cascos retumbaban como relámpagos!
23 Y anunció el ángel de Dios:
“¡Que Dios castigue
a los habitantes de Meroz!
Porque no vinieron a ayudar
al ejército de Dios,
¡no quisieron luchar por él!”
24 »¡Bendita seas Jael,
esposa de Héber el quenita!
¡Bendita entre todas las mujeres de Israel!
25 Sísara te pidió agua y tú le diste leche
para hacerlo caer en un sueño profundo.
26 Con una mano tomaste una estaca,
y con la otra, un martillo.
De un golpe le aplastaste la cabeza.
27 Sísara se desplomó entre tus piernas.
¡Quedó tendido en el piso!
28 »La madre de Sísara, afligida,
se asoma por la ventana y pregunta:
“¿Por qué tarda tanto mi hijo?
¿Por qué no se oyen sus caballos?”
29 Las sirvientas más sabias le responden;
y ella misma se repite estas palabras:
30 “Seguramente se están repartiendo
lo que ganaron en la guerra:
Una o dos mujeres para cada capitán,
telas de muchos colores para Sísara,
uno o dos pañuelos bordados en colores
para adornarse el cuello...”.
31 »Y Débora y Barac
terminaron su canto así:
¡Dios mío,
que sean destruidos tus enemigos,
pero que tus amigos brillen
como el sol de mediodía!»
Después de eso hubo cuarenta años de paz en todo el territorio.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000 by United Bible Societies