6. “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned,and travelers kept to the byways.
7. The villagers ceased in Israel;they ceased to be until I arose;I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.
8. When new gods were chosen,then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seenamong forty thousand in Israel?
9. My heart goes out to the commanders of Israelwho offered themselves willingly among the people.Bless the Lord.
10. “Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys,you who sit on rich carpetsand you who walk by the way.
11. To the sound of musicians at the watering places,there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the Lord,the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel.“Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord.
12. “Awake, awake, Deborah!Awake, awake, break out in a song!Arise, Barak, lead away your captives,O son of Abinoam.
13. Then down marched the remnant of the noble;the people of the Lord marched down for me against the mighty.
14. From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;from Machir marched down the commanders,and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant’s staff;
15. the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,and Issachar faithful to Barak;into the valley they rushed at his heels.Among the clans of Reubenthere were great searchings of heart.
16. Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds,to hear the whistling for the flocks?Among the clans of Reubenthere were great searchings of heart.
17. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea,staying by his landings.
18. Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.