Judges Chapter 5

1 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath delivered Sisera into thy hand; is not Jehovah gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

2 And Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

3 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left.

4 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

5 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And he turned in unto her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.

6 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

7 And he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

8 Then Jael Heber’s wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.

9 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And he came unto her; and, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent-pin was in his temples.

10 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

11 And the hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

12 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

13 For that the leaders took the lead in Israel,

14 For that the people offered themselves willingly,

15 Bless ye Jehovah.

16 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes;

17 even I, will sing unto Jehovah;

18 I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel.

19 Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir,

20 When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom,

21 The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped,

22 Yea, the clouds dropped water.

23 The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah,

24 Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

25 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,

26 In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied,

27 And the travellers walked through byways.

28 The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased,

29 Until that I Deborah arose,

30 That I arose a mother in Israel.

31 They chose new gods;

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Then sang Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, on that day, saying,

2 For that leaders led in Israel, For that the people willingly offered themselves, Bless Jehovah!

3 Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, [even] I, will sing to Jehovah; I will hymn to Jehovah theGod of Israel.

4 Jehovah, when thou wentest forth from Seir, When thou marchedst out of the fields of Edom, The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains quaked before the face of Jehovah, That Sinai, from before Jehovah theGod of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, The roads were unused, and the travellers on highways went by crooked paths.

7 The villages ceased in Israel, Ceased until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose newgods; 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, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Jehovah!

10 Ye that ride on white she-asses, ye that sit on carpets, and ye that walk by the way, consider.

11 Because of the voice of those who divide [the spoil] in the midst of the places of drawing water; There they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, His righteous acts toward his villages in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah! awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives, thou son of Abinoam!

13 Then come down, thou, the remnant of nobles, [as his] people; Jehovah! come down with me in the midst of the mighty ones.

14 Out of Ephraim [came] those whose root was in Amalek; After thee was Benjamin among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handled the staff of the ruler.

15 And the princes in Issachar were with Deborah; And Issachar, like Barak; They were sent into the valley at his feet. In the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart!

16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the bleating of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great deliberations of heart!

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan; And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat on the sea-shore, And abode in his creeks.

18 Zebulun is a people [that] jeoparded their lives unto death, Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

19 Kings came, — they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan; At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoil of silver.

20 From heaven was the fight; The stars from their courses fought with Sisera.

21 The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. My soul, thou hast trodden down strength!

22 Then did the horse-hoofs clatter with the coursings, The coursings of their steeds.

23 Curse Meroz, saith the Angel of Jehovah; Curse, curse the inhabitants thereof; For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty.

24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, Blessed above women in the tent!

25 He asked water, she gave milk; In the nobles' bowl she brought forth cream.

26 She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen's hammer; And she smote Sisera, she struck through his head, Shattered and pierced through his temples.

27 Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell, overcome.

28 Them other of Sisera looketh out at the window, And crieth through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the trampings of his chariots?

29 The wise amongst her ladies answer [her], Yea, she returneth answer to herself,

30 Have they not found, divided the booty, A damsel, two damsels, to each? A booty of dyed stuffs for Sisera, A booty of dyed stuffs of embroidery, Dyed stuff of double embroidery for the neck of a spoiler?

31 So let all thine enemies perish, Jehovah! But let them that love him be as the rising of the sun in its might. And the land had rest forty years.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And Debbora and Barac son of Abineem sang in that day, saying,

2 A revelation was made in Israel when the people were made willing: Praise ye the Lord.

3 Hear, ye kings, and hearken, rulers: I will sing, it is I [who will sing] to the Lord, it is I, I will sing a psalm to the Lord the God of Israel.

4 O Lord, in thy going forth on Seir, when thou wentest forth out of the land of Edom, the earth quaked and the heaven dropped dews, and the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains were shaken before the face of the Lord Eloi, this Sina before the face of the Lord God of Israel.

6 In the days of Samegar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, they deserted the ways, and went in by-ways; they went in crooked paths.

7 The mighty men in Israel failed, they failed until Debbora arose, until she arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods; then the cities of rulers fought; there was not a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart [inclines] to the orders given in Israel; ye that are willing among the people, bless the Lord.

10 Ye that mount a she-ass at noon-day, ye that sit on the judgment-seat, and walk by the roads of them that sit in judgment by the way; declare

11 [ye that are delivered] from the noise of disturbers among the drawers of water; there shall they relate righteous acts: O Lord, increase righteous acts in Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the cities.

12 Awake, awake, Debbora; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barac, and lead thy captivity captive, son of Abineem.

13 Then went down the remnant to the strong, the people of the Lord went down for him among the mighty ones from me.

14 Ephraim rooted them out in Amalec, behind thee was Benjamin among thy people: the inhabitants of Machir came down with me searching out the enemy, and from Zabulon came they that draw with the scribe's pen of record.

15 And princes in Issachar were with Debbora and Barac, thus she sent Barac on his feet in the valleys into the portions of Ruben; great [pangs] reached to the heart.

16 Why did they sit between the sheep-folds to hear the bleating of flocks for the divisions of Ruben? [there were] great searchings of heart.

17 Galaad [is] on the other side of Jordan where he pitched his tents; and why does Dan remain in ships? Aser sat down on the sea-coasts, and he will tabernacle at his ports.

18 The people Zabulon exposed their soul to death, and Nephthali came to the high places of their land.

19 Kings set themselves in array, then the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanaach at the water of Mageddo; they took no gift of money.

20 The stars from heaven set themselves in array, they set themselves [to fight] with Sisara out of their paths.

21 The brook of Kison swept them away, the ancient brook, the brook Kison: my mighty soul will trample him down.

22 When the hoofs of the horse were entangled, his mighty ones earnestly hasted

23 to curse Meroz: Curse ye [it], said the angel of the Lord; cursed [is] every one that dwells in it, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to his help among the mighty.

24 Blessed among women be Jael wife of Chaber the Kenite; let her be blessed above women in tents.

25 He asked for water, she gave him milk in a dish; she brought butter of princes.

26 She stretched forth her left hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workman's hammer, and she smote Sisara with it, she nailed through his head and smote him; she nailed through his temples.

27 He rolled down between her feet; he fell and lay between her feet; he bowed and fell: where he bowed, there he fell dead.

28 The mother of Sisara looked down through the window out of the loophole, [saying], Why was his chariot ashamed? why did the wheels of his chariots tarry?

29 Her wise ladies answered her, and she returned answers to herself, [saying],

30 Will they not find him dividing the spoil? he will surely be gracious to every man: [there are] spoils of dyed garments for Sisara, spoils of various dyed garments, dyed embroidered garments, they [are] the spoils for his neck.

31 Thus let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: and they that love him shall be as the going forth of the sun in his strength. And the land had rest forty years.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Cecineruntque Debbora et Barac filius Abinoem in illo die, dicentes:

2 Qui sponte obtulistis de Israel animas vestras ad periculum, benedicite Domino.

3 Audite reges, auribus percipite principes: Ego sum, ego sum quæ Domino canam, psallam Domino Deo Israel.

4 Domine cum exires de Seir, et transires per regiones Edom, terra mota est, cælique ac nubes distillaverunt aquis.

5 Montes fluxerunt a facie Domini, et Sinai a facie Domini Dei Israel.

6 In diebus Samgar filii Anath, in diebus Iahel quieverunt semitæ: et qui ingrediebantur per eas, ambulaverunt per calles devios.

7 Cessaverunt fortes in Israel, et quieverunt: donec surgeret Debbora, surgeret mater in Israel.

8 Nova bella elegit Dominus, et portas hostium ipse subvertit: clypeus et hasta si apparuerint in quadraginta millibus Israel.

9 Cor meum diligit principes Israel: qui propria voluntate obtulistis vos discrimini, benedicite Domino.

10 Qui ascenditis super nitentes asinos, et sedetis in iudicio, et ambulatis in via, loquimini.

11 Ubi collisi sunt currus, et hostium suffocatus est exercitus, ibi narrentur iustitiæ Domini et clementia in fortes Israel: tunc descendit populus Domini ad portas, et obtinuit principatum.

12 Surge, surge Debbora, surge, surge, et loquere canticum: surge Barac, et apprehende captivos tuos fili Abinoem.

13 Salvatæ sunt reliquiæ populi, Dominus in fortibus dimicavit.

14 Ex Ephraim delevit eos in Amalec, et post eum ex Beniamin in populos tuos o Amalec: de Machir principes descenderunt, et de Zabulon qui exercitum ducerent ad bellandum.

15 Duces Issachar fuere cum Debbora, et Barac vestigia sunt secuti, qui quasi in præceps ac barathrum se discrimini dedit: diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.

16 Quare habitas inter duos terminos, ut audias sibilos gregum? diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.

17 Galaad trans Iordanem quiescebat, et Dan vacabat navibus: Aser habitabat in littore maris, et in portubus morabatur.

18 Zabulon vero et Nephthali obtulerunt animas suas morti in regione Merome.

19 Venerunt reges et pugnaverunt, pugnaverunt reges Chanaan in Thanach iuxta aquas Mageddo, et tamen nihil tulere prædantes.

20 De cælo dimicatum est contra eos: stellæ manentes in ordine et cursu suo, adversus Sisaram pugnaverunt.

21 Torrens Cison traxit cadavera eorum, torrens Cadumim, torrens Cison: conculca anima mea robustos.

22 Ungulæ equorum ceciderunt, fugientibus impetu, et per præceps ruentibus fortissimis hostium.

23 Maledicite terræ Meroz, dixit Angelus Domini: maledicite habitatoribus eius, quia non venerunt ad auxilium Domini, in adiutorium fortissimorum eius.

24 Benedicta inter mulieres Iahel uxor Haber Cinæi, et benedicatur in tabernaculo suo.

25 Aquam petenti lac dedit, et in phiala principum obtulit butyrum.

26 Sinistram manum misit ad clavum, et dexteram ad fabrorum malleos, percussitque Sisaram quærens in capite vulneri locum, et tempus valide perforans.

27 Inter pedes eius ruit: defecit, et mortuus est: volvebatur ante pedes eius, et iacebat exanimis et miserabilis.

28 Per fenestram respiciens, ululabat mater eius: et de cœnaculo loquebatur: Cur moratur regredi currus eius? quare tardaverunt pedes quadrigarum illius?

29 Una sapientior ceteris uxoribus eius, hæc socrui verba respondit:

30 Forsitan nunc dividit spolia, et pulcherrima feminarum eligitur ei: vestes diversorum colorum Sisaræ traduntur in prædam, et supellex varia ad ornanda colla congeritur.

31 Sic pereant omnes inimici tui Domine: qui autem diligunt te, sicut Sol in ortu suo splendet, ita rutilent.

32 Quievitque Terra per quadraginta annos.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

2 “Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, LORD!

3 “Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD. I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

4 “LORD, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains quaked at the LORD’s presence, even Sinai at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.

7 The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD!

10 “Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.

11 Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the LORD’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then the LORD’s people went down to the gates.

12 ‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’

13 “Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. The LORD came down for me against the mighty.

14 Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.

18 Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

19 “The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.

20 From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

21 The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.

22 Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones.

23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the LORD’s angel. ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

24 “Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

25 He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

26 She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.

27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28 “Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice. ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’

29 Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,

30 ‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’

31 “So let all your enemies perish, LORD, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years.

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And Deborah singeth--also Barak son of Abinoam--on that day, saying: --

2 `For freeing freemen in Israel, For a people willingly offering themselves Bless ye Jehovah.

3 Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, to Jehovah, I--I do sing, I sing praise to Jehovah, God of Israel.

4 Jehovah, in Thy going forth out of Seir, In Thy stepping out of the field of Edom, Earth trembled, also the heavens dropped, Also thick clouds dropped water.

5 Hills flowed from the face of Jehovah, This one--Sinai--From the face of Jehovah, God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath--In the days of Jael--The ways have ceased, And those going in the paths go <FI>in<Fi> crooked ways.

7 Villages ceased in Israel--they ceased, Till that I arose--Deborah, That I arose, a mother in Israel.

8 He chooseth new gods, Then war <FI>is<Fi> at the gates! A shield is not seen--and a spear Among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart <FI>is<Fi> to the lawgivers of Israel, Who are offering themselves willingly among the people, Bless ye Jehovah!

10 Riders on white asses--Sitters on a long robe--And walkers by the way--meditate!

11 By the voice of shouters Between the places of drawing water, There they give out righteous acts of Jehovah, Righteous acts of His villages in Israel, Then ruled in the gates have the people of Jehovah.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song; Rise, Barak, and take captive thy captivity, Son of Abinoam.

13 Then him who is left of the honourable ones He caused to rule the people of Jehovah, He caused me to rule among the mighty.

14 Out of Ephraim their root <FI>is<Fi> against Amalek. After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down lawgivers, And out of Zebulun those drawing with the reed of a writer.

15 And princes in Issachar <FI>are<Fi> with Deborah, Yea, Issachar <FI>is<Fi> right with Barak, Into the valley he was sent on his feet. In the divisions of Reuben, Great <FI>are<Fi> the decrees of heart!

16 Why hast thou abode between the boundaries, To hear lowings of herds? For the divisions of Reuben, Great <FI>are<Fi> the searchings of heart!

17 Gilead beyond the Jordan did tabernacle, And Dan--why doth he sojourn <FI>in<Fi> ships? Asher hath abode at the haven of the seas, And by his creeks doth tabernacle.

18 Zebulun <FI>is<Fi> a people who exposed its soul to death, Naphtali also--on high places of the field.

19 Kings came--they fought; Then fought kings of Canaan, In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; Gain of money they took not!

20 From the heavens they fought: The stars from their highways fought with Sisera.

21 The brook Kishon swept them away, The brook most ancient--the brook Kishon. Thou dost tread down strength, O my soul!

22 Then broken were the horse-heels, By pransings--pransings of its mighty ones.

23 Curse Meroz--said a messenger of Jehovah, Cursing, curse ye its inhabitants, For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty!

24 Blessed above women is Jael, Wife of Heber the Kenite, Above women in the tent she is blessed.

25 Water he asked--milk she gave; In a lordly dish she brought near butter.

26 Her hand to the pin she sendeth forth, And her right hand to the labourers' hammer, And she hammered Sisera--she smote his head, Yea, she smote, and it passed through his temple.

27 Between her feet he bowed--He fell, he lay down; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell--destroyed.

28 Through the window she hath looked out--Yea, she crieth out--the mother of Sisera, Through the lattice: Wherefore is his chariot delaying to come? Wherefore tarried have the steps of his chariot?

29 The wise ones, her princesses, answer her, Yea, she returneth her sayings to herself:

30 Do they not find? --they apportion spoil, A female--two females--for every head, Spoil of finger-work for Sisera, Spoil of embroidered finger-work, Finger-work--a pair of embroidered things, For the necks of the spoil!

31 So do all Thine enemies perish, O Jehovah, And those loving Him <FI>are<Fi> As the going out of the sun in its might!' and the land resteth forty years.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).