Judges 5

Deborah and Barak Drop A Victory Song

1 That day, Deborah and Barak (son of Abinoam) dropped a victory song for the Lord.

2 “When the leaders step up and the people ride with them, praise the Lord for that!”

3 “Listen up, kings! Pay attention, rulers! I am singing to the Lord, I am dropping these bars for the God of Israel.”

4 “Lord, when You stepped out from Seir, when You moved out from Edom’s land, the earth shook, and the skies dropped rain.”

5 “The mountains melted like wax before the Lord, the One from Sinai, the God of Israel.”

Israel Was Down Bad

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, the streets were empty. Folks stayed off the main roads because it was too dangerous.”

7 “Village life shut down in Israel, until I, Deborah, rose up, a mother for the people of Israel.”

8 “When the people chose new gods, war came to their city gates, but there was not a shield or spear in sight among 40,000 in Israel.”

9 “My heart is with the leaders of Israel, you all stepped up, and with the people who rode with them. Praise the Lord for that!”

The Song Shouts Out the Leaders

10 “You all who ride fly donkeys, who sit on fancy seats, and who walk the streets, speak up and tell this story.”

11 “Out by the wells where folks get water, let them tell about the Lord’s victory, how He saved Israel.”

12 “Wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, drop your bars! Rise up, Barak! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam.”

God Fights for Israel

13 “Then the survivors came down, the Lord sent the warriors to handle business.”

14 “The crew from Ephraim came deep. Benjamin was rolling behind them. Leaders came from Machir, and Zebulun rolled up with their officers.”

15 “Issachar was rolling with Deborah. Barak was right behind, riding down into battle. But in the hood of Reuben, folks was stuck in their feelings, debating hard.”

16 “Why you still chilling with the sheep pens, listening to the flocks, Reuben had a lot of talk, but no action.”

17 “Gilead stayed across the Jordan. Dan stayed with the ships. Asher chilled at the seashore, kicking it by the docks.”

18 “But Zebulun and Naphtali were bout that life, they risked their lives to step in the fight.”

God Sends Heavenly Backup

19 “Kings came and fought, the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they did not get any treasure out of it.”

20 “Even the stars in the sky were fighting, heaven was throwing hands against Sisera.”

21 “The Kishon River swept them away, that old river crushed them. March on, my soul, stay strong!”

22 “The horses’ hooves were flying, the mighty warhorses were stampeding.”

Sisera’s Crew Gets Cursed

23 “Curse Meroz!” said the angel of the Lord. “Curse them people heavy, they did not pull up to help the Lord when the fight went down.”

Jael Gets Big Respect

24 “Blessed is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, blessed among all the women who stay in tents.”

25 “Sisera asked her for water, but she gave him milk. She brought out that drink in a fancy cup.”

26 “She grabbed a tent peg in one hand, a hammer in the other, and laid him out. She crushed his head and smashed him dead.”

27 “At her feet he sank, he fell, he laid down dead. Right there where he dropped, that is where he stayed.”

Sisera’s Mama Still Waiting

28 Sisera’s momma was looking out the window, waiting and crying, like, “Why is he taking so long to come back?”

29 Her fancy friends tried to calm her down, but she kept thinking…

30 “They probably splitting the goods, grabbing up the women, taking clothes and jewelry for Sisera.”

Final Praise to God

31 “Lord, may all Your enemies get laid down like Sisera, but may the ones who love You shine bright like the morning sun.” And the land stayed peaceful for 40 years.