Judges 5:6-24

6When Anath's son Shamgar ruled the land, nobody travelled on the roads. When Jael ruled, people walked on secret paths, because they were afraid.

7Nobody lived in the small villages. Then I, Deborah, became their leader. I became like a mother for Israel's people, to keep them safe.

8When the Israelites chose new gods to worship, enemies attacked their cities. No one in Israel was ready to fight. Not one of their 40,000 soldiers had a shield or a spear.

9I thank God for Israel's leaders, and the people who are ready to fight our enemies. Praise the Lord!

10Listen to me, you rich people who ride on white donkeys, with beautiful cloths to sit on. And you people who walk along the road, you should listen too!

11Listen to the voices of the singers near the wells of water. They sing about the great things that the Lord has done. They tell how Israel's soldiers have won against their enemies. Then the Lord's people marched down to the city gates.

12“Wake up, Deborah! Wake up and sing a song! Get up, Barak, son of Abinoam! Take your enemies away as your prisoners.”

13The faithful men who remained returned to their leaders. The Lord's people came to me. They were ready to fight against our enemies.

14Some men of Ephraim's tribe came to help, from the land where Amalek lived. They followed men of Benjamin's tribe, with their soldiers. Leaders also came from Makir. Army officers came from Zebulun's tribe.

15The leaders of Issachar's tribe were with Deborah. Yes, the men of Issachar joined with Barak. Barak led them into the valley. But the men of Reuben's tribe could not decide what to do.

16Instead, they stayed to take care of their sheep. Did they want to listen to the shepherds as they called out to their sheep? The clans of Reuben's tribe could not agree what they should do.

17The men of Gilead stayed at home, on the east side of the Jordan River. The men of Dan's tribe stayed with their ships. The men of Asher's tribe also stayed in their homes near the sea.

18But the men of Zebulun's tribe were not afraid to die in war. The men of Naphtali's tribe were also ready to attack the enemy.

19Kings of Canaan came and they fought against us. They attacked us at Taanach, near the stream at Megiddo. But they could not take any valuable silver from us.

20Even the stars fought against Sisera! They travelled across the sky to attack him.

21The Kishon river carried away Sisera's soldiers. It used its power to stop them. So I will be brave and I will continue to fight!

22As for the horses of Sisera's army, their feet made a loud noise as they ran away.

23The Lord's angel says, “Punish Meroz! Punish the people who live there, because they did not come to help the Lord. They did not agree to fight against the Lord's strong enemy.”

24But Jael should receive great honour! Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, should receive more honour than all other women who live in tents.