Iudicum 5
1 Cecineruntque Debbora et Barac filius Abinoem in illo die, dicentes:
On that day, Deborah sang this song, along with Barak:
2 Qui sponte obtulistis de Israel animas vestras ad periculum, benedicite Domino.
“When the leaders of the Israeli people really lead them, and the people follow them, [it is time to] praise Yahweh!
3 Audite reges, auribus percipite principes: Ego sum, ego sum quae Domino canam, psallam Domino Deo Israel.
Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you leaders! I will sing to Yahweh. With this song I will praise Yahweh, the God we Israelis worship.
4 Domine cum exires de Seir, et transires per regiones Edom, terra mota est, caelique ac nubes distillaverunt aquis.
O Yahweh, when you came from Seir, when you marched from that land [better known as] Edom, the earth shook, and rain poured down from the skies.
5 Montes fluxerunt a facie Domini, et Sinai a facie Domini Dei Israel.
The mountains shook when you came, just like Sinai Mountain shook when you appeared there, because you are Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis worship.
6 In diebus Samgar filii Anath, in diebus Iahel quieverunt semitae: et qui ingrediebantur per eas, ambulaverunt per calles devios.
“When Shamgar was our leader and when Jael ruled us, [we were afraid to walk on] the main roads; instead, caravans of travelers walked on winding [less traveled] roads [to avoid being molested].
7 Cessaverunt fortes in Israel, et quieverunt: donec surgeret Debbora, surgeret mater in Israel.
People left their small villages, [and moved into the walled cities] until I, Deborah, became their leader. [I became like] a mother to the Israeli people.
8 Nova bella elegit Dominus, et portas hostium ipse subvertit: clypeus et hasta si apparuerint in quadraginta millibus Israel.
When the Israeli people [abandoned Yahweh and] chose new gods, enemies attacked the gates of the cities, and then [they took away] the shields and spears from 40,000 Israeli soldiers. Not one shield or spear was left.
9 Cor meum diligit principes Israel: qui propria voluntate obtulistis vos discrimini, benedicite Domino.
I am thankful for the leaders and soldiers who volunteered [to fight]. Praise Yahweh [for them!]
10 Qui ascenditis super nitentes asinos, et sedetis in iudicio, et ambulatis in via, loquimini.
“You wealthy people who ride on donkeys, sitting on nice padded saddles, and you people who just walk on the road, you all listen!
11 Ubi collisi sunt currus, et hostium suffocatus est exercitus, ibi narrentur iustitiae Domini et clementia in fortes Israel: tunc descendit populus Domini ad portas, et obtinuit principatum.
Listen to the voices of the singers who gather at the places where [the animals drink] water. They tell about how Yahweh acted righteously when he enabled the Israeli warriors to conquer [their enemies]. “Yahweh’s people marched down to the gates of our city.
12 Surge, surge Debbora, surge, surge, et loquere canticum: surge Barac, et apprehende captivos tuos fili Abinoem.
The people came to my house and shouted, ‘Deborah, wake up! Wake up and start singing!’ They also shouted, ‘Barak, son of Abinoam, get up, and capture our enemies!’
13 Salvatae sunt reliquiae populi, Dominus in fortibus dimicavit.
Later, some of the Israeli people came down [from Tabor Mountain] with us, their leaders. These men who belonged to Yahweh came with me to fight their strong enemies.
14 Ex Ephraim delevit eos in Amalec, et post eum ex Beniamin in populos tuos o Amalec: de Machir principes descenderunt, et de Zabulon qui exercitum ducerent ad bellandum.
Some came from the tribe descended from Ephraim. They came from land that once belonged to the descendants of Amalek. And men from the tribe descended from Benjamin followed them. Troops from the group descended from Makir also came down, and officers from the tribe descended from Zebulun came down, carrying staffs.
15 Duces Issachar fuere cum Debbora, et Barac vestigia sunt secuti, qui quasi in praeceps ac barathrum se discrimini dedit: diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.
Leaders from the tribes descended from Issachar joined Barak and me. They followed Barak, rushing down into the valley. But men from the tribe descended from Reuben could not decide whether or not to join us.
16 Quare habitas inter duos terminos, ut audias sibilos gregum? diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.
Why did you men stay at your sheep pens, waiting to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks of sheep to come to the pens? Men in the tribe descended from Reuben could not decide whether they would join us to fight our enemies, or not.
17 Galaad trans Iordanem quiescebat, et Dan vacabat navibus: Aser habitabat in littore maris, et in portubus morabatur.
Similarly, the men living in the Gilead area stayed at home, east of the Jordan River. And the men from the tribe descended from Dan, why did they stay home? The tribe descended from Asher sat by the seashore. They stayed in their coves.
18 Zabulon vero et Nephthali obtulerunt animas suas morti in regione Merome.
But men from the tribe descended from Zebulun risked (their lives/were ready to die fighting) on the battlefield, and men descended from Naphtali were ready to do that, also.
19 Venerunt reges et pugnaverunt, pugnaverunt reges Chanaan in Thanach iuxta aquas Mageddo, et tamen nihil tulere praedantes.
“The kings of Canaan fought us at Taanach, near the springs in Megiddo [Valley]. [But since they did not defeat us], they did not carry away any silver or other treasures from the battle.
20 De caelo dimicatum est contra eos: stellae manentes in ordine et cursu suo, adversus Sisaram pugnaverunt.
[It was as though] the stars in the sky fought for us [and as though] those stars in their paths fought against Sisera.
21 Torrens Cison traxit cadavera eorum, torrens Cadumim, torrens Cison: conculca anima mea robustos.
The Kishon River swept them away— that river that has been there for ages. I will tell myself to be brave and continue marching on.
22 Ungulae equorum ceciderunt, fugientibus impetu, et per praeceps ruentibus fortissimis hostium.
The hooves of the horses of Sisera’s [army] pounded the ground. Those powerful horses kept galloping along.
23 Maledicite terrae Meroz, dixit Angelus Domini: maledicite habitatoribus eius, quia non venerunt ad auxilium Domini, in adiutorium fortissimorum eius.
The angel sent by Yahweh said, ‘Curse the people of Meroz [town], because they did not come to help Yahweh to defeat the mighty warriors [of Canaan].’
24 Benedicta inter mulieres Iahel uxor Haber Cinaei, et benedicatur in tabernaculo suo.
“But God is very pleased with Jael, the wife of Heber from the Ken people-group. He is more pleased with her than with all the other women who live in tents.
25 Aquam petenti lac dedit, et in phiala principum obtulit butyrum.
Sisera asked for some water, but Jael gave him some milk. She brought him some yogurt/curds in a bowl that was suitable for kings.
26 Sinistram manum misit ad clavum, et dexteram ad fabrorum malleos, percussitque Sisaram quaerens in capite vulneri locum, et tempus valide perforans.
Then, [when he was asleep], she reached for a tent peg with her left hand, and she reached for a hammer with her right hand. She hit Sisera hard with it and crushed his head. She pounded the tent peg right through his head.
27 Inter pedes eius ruit: defecit, et mortuus est: volvebatur ante pedes eius, et iacebat exanimis et miserabilis.
He collapsed and fell dead at her feet.
28 Per fenestram respiciens, ululabat mater eius: et de coenaculo loquebatur: Cur moratur regredi currus eius? quare tardaverunt pedes quadrigarum illius?
“Sisera’s mother looked out from her window. She waited for him to return. She said, ‘Why is he taking so long to come home in his chariot? Why don’t I hear the sound of the wheels of his chariot?’
29 Una sapientior ceteris uxoribus eius, haec socrui verba respondit:
One wise woman replied to her, and she [kept consoling herself by] repeating those words:
30 Forsitan nunc dividit spolia, et pulcherrima feminarum eligitur ei: vestes diversorum colorum Sisarae traduntur in praedam, et supellex varia ad ornanda colla congeritur.
‘Perhaps they are dividing up the things and the people they captured after the battle. Each soldier will get one or two women. Sisera will get some beautiful robes, and some beautiful embroidered robes for me.’
31 Sic pereant omnes inimici tui Domine: qui autem diligunt te, sicut Sol in ortu suo splendet, ita rutilent. Quievitque Terra per quadraginta annos.
But [that is not what happened]! Yahweh, I hope that all your enemies will die as Sisera did! And I desire that all those who love you will be as strong as the sun when it rises!
