Judges 5

All 31 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1On that day, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2. 2Praise the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
3. 3Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you rulers! I — yes, I myself — will sing to the LORD. I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4. 4LORD, when you marched out from Seir, when you advanced from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured down, and the clouds released their rain.
5. 5The mountains melted before the LORD, even Sinai before the LORD God of Israel.
6. 6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the main roads were deserted, and travelers walked through side paths.
7. 7Village life in Israel ceased, it stopped, until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose as a mother in Israel.
8. 8The people chose new gods, and then war came right to their gates. Among 40,000 men in Israel, could you find a single shield or spear?
9. 9My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who volunteered willingly among the people. Bless the LORD!
10. 10Speak up, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit in judgment, and you who walk along the road.
11. 11Those who are delivered from the noise of archers at the watering places will recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel. Then the people of the LORD will go down to the gates.
12. 12'Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, and sing your song! Rise up, Barak son of Abinoam — seize your captives and lead them away!'
13. 13Then he made the one who remained have dominion over the nobles among the people; the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.
14. 14From Ephraim came those with roots against Amalek; after you, Benjamin, among your people. From Machir came down leaders, and from Zebulun those who handle the writer's pen.
15. 15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar was also with Barak, who went on foot into the valley. Among the divisions of Reuben, there were great thoughts of heart.
16. 16Why did you stay among the sheepfolds, listening to the bleatings of the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.
17. 17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And why did Dan remain with his ships? Asher continued on the seacoast and stayed in his harbors.
18. 18But Zebulun — those were people who risked their lives to the point of death. So did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
19. 19Kings came and fought — the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo. But they carried off no silver plunder.
20. 20The stars fought from heaven; from their paths across the sky, they fought against Sisera.
21. 21The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, you have trampled down strength.
22. 22Then the horses' hooves were broken by the prancing, the prancing of their mighty ones.
23. 23'Curse Meroz!' said the angel of the LORD. 'Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD — to help the LORD against the mighty.'
24. 24Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite — most blessed of women who dwell in tents.
25. 25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; she served butter in a fine dish.
26. 26She reached for a tent peg with one hand and a workman's hammer with the other. She struck Sisera, crushed his head, and drove the peg straight through his temples.
27. 27At her feet he crumpled, he collapsed, he lay still. At her feet he crumpled, he collapsed. Right where he crumpled, there he fell — dead.
28. 28Sisera's mother peered through the window and cried out through the lattice, 'Why is his chariot taking so long to come? Why are the wheels of his chariots delayed?'
29. 29Her wisest attendants answered her, and she kept repeating their words to herself:
30. 30Have they not hurried? Have they not divided the plunder; to every man a young woman or two; to Sisera a plunder of various colors, a plunder of various colors of needlework, of various colors of needlework on both sides, suitable for the necks of those who take the spoil?
31. 31"So let all your enemies perish, LORD! But let those who love him shine like the sun rising in full strength." After this, the land had peace for 40 years.