6. “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,in the days of Jael, the main roads were empty.Travelers went on the back roads.
7. There were no warriors in Israeluntil I, Deborah, arose.I arose to be a mother to Israel.
8. At that time they chose to follow new gods.Because of this, enemies fought us at our city gates.No one could find a shield or a spearamong the 40,000 men of Israel.
9. My heart is with the commanders of Israel.They volunteered freely from among the people.Praise the Lord!
10. “You who ride on white donkeysand sit on saddle blankets, listen!And you who walk along the road, listen!
11. Listen to the sound of the singersat the watering holes.There they tell about the victories of the Lord.They tell about the victories of the Lord’s warriors in Israel.Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates.
12. “Wake up, wake up, Deborah!Wake up, wake up, sing a song!Get up, Barak!Go capture your enemies, son of Abinoam!
13. “Then the men who were left came down to the important leaders.The Lord’s people came down to me with strong men.
14. They came from Ephraim in the mountains of Amalek.Benjamin was among the people who followed you.From the family group of Makir in West Manasseh, the commanders came down.And from Zebulun came those men who lead with an officer’s staff.
15. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah.The people of Issachar were loyal to Barak.They followed him into the valley.The Reubenites thought hardabout what they would do.
16. Why did you stay by the sheepfold?Was it to hear the music played for your sheep?The Reubenites thought hardabout what they would do.
17. The people of Gilead stayed east of the Jordan River.People of Dan, why did you stay by the ships?The people of Asher stayed at the seashore.They stayed at their safe harbors.
18. But the people of Zebulun risked their lives.So did the people of Naphtali on the battlefield.