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.
5
デボラの歌
1デボラとバラクは、この大勝利をたたえて歌いました。
2「主をほめたたえよ。
イスラエルの指導者が雄々しく先頭を行くと、
民は喜んで従った。
そうだ、主をほめたたえよ。
3王よ、君主よ、耳を傾けよ。
イスラエルの神、主にささげる私の歌声に。
4主がセイルからわれわれを導き出し、
エドムの平原を進まれた時、
地は震え、天は雨を降らせた。
5イスラエルの神、主の前では、
シナイ山さえ揺れ動いた。
6シャムガルの日々に、ヤエルの日々に、
街道は荒れ果て、
旅人は細いわき道を通った。
7デボラがイスラエルの母となるまでは、
イスラエルの人口は減り続けた。
8イスラエルが新しい神々を選んだ時、
すべてが衰えた。
いったい、どこのだれが盾や槍を持たせてくれるというのか。
イスラエルの兵四万のうちから武器は消えた。
9喜んで自らをささげるイスラエルの指導者たちの姿に、
どれほど私は喜んだことか。
主をほめたたえよ。
10全イスラエルよ、貧しい者も富む者も賛美の列に加われ。
さあ、白いろばに乗り、豪華な敷物に座る者も、
歩くほかない貧しい者も。
11村の楽隊は井戸の回りに集まり、
主の勝利を歌う。
くり返しくり返し、
主がどれほど、農民の軍隊イスラエルをお助けくださったかを。
主の民は、城門を通って行進した。
12目を覚ませ、デボラ。
高らかに歌え。
起きよ、バラク。
アビノアムの子よ、とりこを引き連れて進め。
13-14生き残った者は堂々と
タボル山から下りて来た。
主の民は、大敵を向こうに回して降りて来た。
エフライムから、ベニヤミンから
マキルから、ゼブルンからやって来た。
15イッサカルの指導者は
デボラやバラクともども谷へと下った。
谷を突進することが、主のご命令だから。
ルベン族は出て行かなかった。
16なぜ、おまえは牧場の柵内の家に座し、
羊飼いの笛をもてあそんでいたのか。
そうだ。ルベン族は落ち着きを失っている。
17なぜ、ギルアデはヨルダン川の向こうでとどまったのか。
なぜ、ダンは舟から下りて来なかったのか。
なぜ、アシェルは海辺に座り込み、
波止場でのんきにかまえていたのか。
18しかし、ゼブルンとナフタリの両部族は
いのちを賭して戦場に赴いた。
19カナンの諸王はメギドの泉のほとりタナクで抗戦したが、
勝利は得られなかった。
20天の星さえもシセラと戦った。
21キションの逆巻く流れが彼らを押し流したのだ。
わが心よ、勇ましく進め。
22聞け、敵軍のひづめが地を踏み鳴らす音を。
見よ、軍馬が跳ね回る姿を。
23だが、主の使いはメロズの町にのろいをかけた。
『その住民を激しくのろえ。
主の民を助けにも来ず、
敵と戦いもしなかった者たちめ』と。
24祝福あれ、ケニ人ヘベルの妻、ヤエルに。
天幕に住む女のうち、
彼女ほど祝福された者はない。
25水を求めるシセラに
ヤエルは高価なコップで牛乳を勧めた。
26天幕の杭と職人の槌とを手に取るや、
シセラのこめかみを刺し通し、
その頭を砕いた。
杭が頭を刺し通すまで打ち続けた。
27ついにシセラはヤエルの足もとに倒れて死んだ。
28シセラの母は、窓から外を眺めながら、
息子の帰りを待っていた。
『なぜ、あの子の戦車はなかなか戻らないのか。
なぜ、あの車の音が聞こえないのか。』
29女官たちは答え、母もくり返した。
30『戦利品が多くて分配に手間取るのでしょう。
勇士はおのおの、一人か二人の娘をあてがわれ、
シセラ様は豪華な織物を手にし、
贈り物をどっさり携えてお帰りになるでしょう。』
31主よ、敵をみなシセラのように滅ぼしてください。
主を愛する者を太陽のように輝かせてください。」
そののち、イスラエルには四十年間、平和が続きました。
