Judges 5:6-24

6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Yael, the highways were deserted, travelers walked by crooked paths.

7Villages were deserted in Israel, deserted, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel arose.

8They chose new gods— then war was in the gates. No shield or spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel!

9My heart is with Israel’s rulers, who offer themselves freely among the people. Bless Adonai!

10Riders on white donkeys, sitting on saddle blankets, traveling on the road, sing!

11Louder than the sound of archers, at the watering places! There let them rehearse the righteous acts of Adonai, the righteous deeds for His villages in Israel. Then the people of Adonai went down to the gates.

12Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam!

13Then a remnant of nobles came down. Adonai’s people came down to me with the mighty ones.

14Those with root in Amalek are from Ephraim, following you, Benjamin, with your peoples. From Machir came down rulers, and from Zebulun wielding the marshal’s staff.

15Issachar’s chiefs were with Deborah. Issachar was with Barak. Into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart.

16Why did you stay in the sheepfolds— to hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there was much searching of heart.

17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, and Dan, why did he stay by the ships? Asher sat at the seacoast, dwelling by its docks.

18Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to death, and Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

19The kings came, they fought, then the kings of Canaan fought, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no spoil of silver.

20From heaven, the stars fought, in their courses they fought Sisera.

21The Kishon torrent swept them away— that ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon! O my soul, march on with strength!

22Then the horses’ hooves beat from the dashing, the dashing of his mighty steeds.

23‘Curse Meroz!’ said the angel of Adonai, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants, for they came not to the aid of Adonai, to the aid of Adonai among the mighty.’

24Blessed above women is Yael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, above women in the tent is she blessed.