229 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
229 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
The Song of Deborah
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# Chapter 5
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1. On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
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2. "Israel's leaders took charge,
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and the people gladly followed.
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Praise the LORD!
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3. "Listen, you kings!
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Pay attention, you mighty rulers!
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For I will sing to the LORD.
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I will make music to the LORD,
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the God of Israel.
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4. "LORD, when you set out from Seir
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and marched across the fields of Edom,
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the earth trembled,
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and the cloudy skies poured down rain.
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5. The mountains quaked in the presence of the LORD,
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the God of Mount Sinai--
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in the presence of the LORD,
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the God of Israel.
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6. "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
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and in the days of Jael,
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people avoided the main roads,
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and travelers stayed on winding pathways.
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7. There were few people left in the villages of Israel--
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until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.
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8. When Israel chose new gods,
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war erupted at the city gates.
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Yet not a shield or spear could be seen
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among forty thousand warriors in Israel!
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9. My heart is with the commanders of Israel,
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with those who volunteered for war.
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Praise the LORD!
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10. "Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys,
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you who sit on fancy saddle blankets,
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and you who walk along the road.
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11. Listen to the village musicians
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gathered at the watering holes.
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They recount the righteous victories of the LORD
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and the victories of his villagers in Israel.
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Then the people of the LORD
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marched down to the city gates.
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12. "Wake up, Deborah, wake up!
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Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!
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Arise, Barak!
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Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
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13. "Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.
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The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors.
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14. They came down from Ephraim--
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a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;
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they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.
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From Makir the commanders marched down;
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from Zebulun came those who carry a commander's staff.
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15. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.
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They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.
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But in the tribe of Reuben
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there was great indecision.
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16. Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds--
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to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?
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Yes, in the tribe of Reuben
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there was great indecision.
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17. Gilead remained east of the Jordan.
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And why did Dan stay home?
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Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,
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remaining in his harbors.
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18. But Zebulun risked his life,
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as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
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19. "The kings of Canaan came and fought,
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at Taanach near Megiddo's springs,
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but they carried off no silver treasures.
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20. The stars fought from heaven.
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The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
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21. The Kishon River swept them away--
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that ancient torrent, the Kishon.
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March on with courage, my soul!
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22. Then the horses' hooves hammered the ground,
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the galloping, galloping of Sisera's mighty steeds.
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23. 'Let the people of Meroz be cursed,' said the angel of the LORD.
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'Let them be utterly cursed,
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because they did not come to help the LORD--
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to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.'
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24. "Most blessed among women is Jael,
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the wife of Heber the Kenite.
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May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.
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25. Sisera asked for water,
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and she gave him milk.
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In a bowl fit for nobles,
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she brought him yogurt.
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26. Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg,
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and with her right hand for the workman's hammer.
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She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head.
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With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.
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27. He sank, he fell,
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he lay still at her feet.
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And where he sank,
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there he died.
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28. "From the window Sisera's mother looked out.
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Through the window she watched for his return, saying,
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'Why is his chariot so long in coming?
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Why don't we hear the sound of chariot wheels?'
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29. "Her wise women answer,
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and she repeats these words to herself:
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30. 'They must be dividing the captured plunder--
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with a woman or two for every man.
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There will be colorful robes for Sisera,
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and colorful, embroidered robes for me.
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Yes, the plunder will include
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colorful robes embroidered on both sides.'
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31. "LORD, may all your enemies die like Sisera!
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But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!"
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Then there was peace in the land for forty years.
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