The Song of Deborah
1On that day Deborah and Barak sang a song. Barak was the son of Abinoam. Here is what Deborah and Barak sang.
2“The princes in Israel lead the way.
The people follow them just because they want to.
When this happens, praise the Lord!
3“Kings, hear this! Rulers, listen!
I will sing to the Lord.
I will praise the Lord in song. He is the God of Israel.
4“Lord, you went out from Seir.
You marched out from the land of Edom.
The earth shook. The heavens poured.
The clouds poured down their water.
5The mountains shook because of the Lord. He was at Mount Sinai.
They shook because of the Lord. He is the God of Israel.
6“The main roads were deserted. So travelers used the winding paths.
That happened in the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath.
It happened in the days of Jael.
7Those who lived in the villages of Israel would not fight.
They held back until I, Deborah, came.
I came as a mother in Israel.
8War came to the city gates. Then God chose new leaders.
But no shields or spears were seen anywhere.
There weren’t any among 40,000 men in Israel.
9My heart is with the princes in Israel.
It’s with the people who follow them just because they want to.
Praise the Lord!
10“Some of you ride on white donkeys.
Some of you sit on your saddle blankets.
Some of you walk along the road.
Think about 11the voices of the singers at the watering places.
They sing about the victories of the Lord.
They sing about the victories of his people who live in Israel’s villages.
“The people of the Lord
went down to the city gates.
12‘Wake up, Deborah! Wake up!’ they said.
‘Wake up! Wake up! Begin to sing!
Barak, get up!
Son of Abinoam, capture your prisoners!’
13“The nobles who were left came down.
The people of the Lord
came down to me against the powerful enemy.
14Some came from the part of Ephraim where some Amalekites lived.
Some from Benjamin were with the people who followed Ephraim.
Captains came down from Makir.
Those who rule like commanders came down from Zebulun.
15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.
The men of Issachar were with Barak.
They went into the valley under his command.
In the territories of Reuben,
men looked deeply into their hearts.
16Why did they stay among the sheep pens?
Why did they stay to hear shepherds whistling for the flocks?
In the territories of Reuben,
men looked deeply into their hearts.
17Gilead stayed east of the Jordan River.
Why did Dan stay near the ships?
The men of Asher remained on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
They stayed in their safe harbors.
18The people of Zebulun put their very lives in danger.
So did Naphtali on the hillside fields.
19“Kings came and fought.
The kings of Canaan fought
at Taanach by the streams of Megiddo.
But they didn’t carry away any silver.
They didn’t take anything at all.
20From the heavens the stars fought.
From the sky they fought against Sisera.
21The Kishon River swept them away.
The Kishon is a very old river.
My spirit, march on! Be strong!
22The hooves of the horses pounded like thunder.
The powerful horses of our enemies galloped away.
23‘Let Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord.
‘Let bitter curses fall on its people.
They did not come to help the Lord.
They did not come to help him against our powerful enemies.’
24“May Jael be the most blessed woman of all.
May the wife of Heber, the Kenite, be blessed.
May she be the most blessed woman of all those who live in tents.
25Sisera asked for water. She gave him milk.
In a bowl fit for nobles she brought him buttermilk.
26Her hand reached out for a tent stake.
Her right hand reached for a hammer.
She hit Sisera. She crushed his head.
She drove the stake right through his head.
27He sank down. He fell at her feet.
He was lying there.
At her feet he sank down. He fell.
He fell where he sank down.
That’s where he died.
28“Sisera’s mother looked out through the window.
From behind the wooden screen she cried out.
‘Why is his chariot taking so long to get here?’ she said.
‘Why can’t I hear the noise of his chariots yet?’
29Her wisest ladies answer her.
And here’s what she keeps saying to herself.
30She says, ‘They must be finding riches to bring back.
They must be dividing them up.
Each man is getting a woman or two.
They are giving colorful clothes to Sisera.
The clothes are very beautiful.
He will bring some for me to wear.
The men must be finding many things to bring home.’
31“Lord, may all your enemies be destroyed.
But may all who love you be like the morning sun.
May they be like the sun when it shines the brightest.”
So the land was at peace for 40 years.
底波拉和巴拉之歌
1那一天，底波拉和巴拉高唱凯歌：
2“以色列的首领身先士卒，
民众前仆后继，
你们要赞美耶和华！
3君王和首领啊，请留心细听！
我要向耶和华歌唱，
我要歌颂以色列的上帝耶和华。
4耶和华啊，当你从西珥出来，
走过以东时，
大地震动，
天上降雨。
5在西奈山的耶和华面前，
在以色列的上帝耶和华面前，
群山震动。
6在亚拿的儿子珊迦与雅亿的时代，
大路行人绝迹，
旅客绕道而行。
7我底波拉做以色列之母以前，
以色列的乡村人烟稀少。
8以色列人选择新的神明，
便战祸临门，
四万以色列人中找不到一矛一盾。
9我的心追随以色列的首领，
追随民中踊跃出征的人。
你们要赞美耶和华！
10“你们骑白驴的、坐绣花毯子的、步行的，
都要倾听。
11歌乐手聚集在井旁，
传扬耶和华和祂以色列子民的胜利。
耶和华的子民都来到城门口。
12“底波拉啊，来吧，来吧，
歌唱吧！
亚比挪庵的儿子巴拉啊，来吧，
带走你的战俘吧！
13幸存的以色列人响应他们的首领，
耶和华的子民为我攻击勇士。
14他们有些来自原属亚玛力人的以法莲，
有些来自便雅悯，
统领出自玛吉，
将官出自西布伦。
15以萨迦的首领与底波拉同往，
以萨迦人随巴拉同去，
众人一起冲进山谷，
吕便人却犹豫不决。
16吕便人为什么坐在羊圈中听悠悠笛声？
他们举棋不定。
17基列人留在约旦河对岸。
但人为什么停留在船上？
亚设人在海岸静坐，
在港口逗留。
18但西布伦人和拿弗他利人却拼死鏖战沙场。
19“迦南诸王来战，
来到米吉多河边的他纳交战，
却没有掠走金银。
20星辰从天上、从它们的轨道攻击西西拉。
21古老的基顺河冲走了敌人。
我的心啊，要奋勇向前！
22蹄声隆隆，
骏马疾驰！
23“耶和华的天使说，
‘要咒诅米罗斯，
要重重地咒诅米罗斯的居民，
因为他们没有帮助耶和华，
没有帮助耶和华攻击强敌。’
24“基尼人希百的妻子雅亿是妇人中最有福的，
是住帐篷的妇人中最有福的。
25西西拉求水，
雅亿给他奶喝，
用珍贵的碗盛上奶酪。
26雅亿左手拿起橛子，
右手拿起工匠的锤子，
猛击西西拉，
打碎了他的头，
刺透了他的太阳穴。
27西西拉屈身倒下，
死在她脚前，
一动不动地躺在那里。
28“他母亲凭窗远眺，
隔着窗棂喊道，
‘为什么他的战车迟迟不回？
为什么还听不到车轮声？’
29聪明的宫女安慰她，
她却依然自言自语，
30‘莫非他们在搜索、瓜分战利品？
也许每人得到一两个少女，
西西拉也会分得从俘虏身上夺来的绣花彩巾。’
31耶和华啊，
愿你的敌人都像西西拉一样灭亡！
愿爱你的人如升起的太阳，
光辉熠熠！”
此后，以色列安享太平四十年。
