6. In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Yael, the highways were deserted, travelers walked by crooked paths.
7. Villages were deserted in Israel, deserted, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel arose.
8. They chose new gods— then war was in the gates. No shield or spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel!
9. My heart is with Israel’s rulers, who offer themselves freely among the people. Bless Adonai!
10. Riders on white donkeys, sitting on saddle blankets, traveling on the road, sing!
11. Louder 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.
12. Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam!
13. Then a remnant of nobles came down. Adonai’s people came down to me with the mighty ones.
14. Those 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.
15. Issachar’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.
16. Why did you stay in the sheepfolds— to hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
17. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, and Dan, why did he stay by the ships? Asher sat at the seacoast, dwelling by its docks.
18. Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to death, and Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.
19. The kings came, they fought, then the kings of Canaan fought, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no spoil of silver.
20. From heaven, the stars fought, in their courses they fought Sisera.
21. The Kishon torrent swept them away— that ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon! O my soul, march on with strength!
22. Then 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.’