9. My heart is with the commanders of Israel,with those who volunteered for war.Praise the lord!
10. “Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys,you who sit on fancy saddle blankets,and you who walk along the road.
11. Listen to the village musiciansgathered at the watering holes.They recount the righteous victories of the lordand the victories of his villagers in Israel.Then the people of the lordmarched down to the city gates.
12. “Wake up, Deborah, wake up!Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!Arise, Barak!Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
13. “Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.The people of the lord marched down against mighty warriors.
14. They came down from Ephraim—a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.From Makir the commanders marched down;from Zebulun came those who carry a commander’s staff.
15. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.But in the tribe of Reubenthere was great indecision.
16. Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?Yes, in the tribe of Reubenthere was great indecision.
17. Gilead remained east of the Jordan.And why did Dan stay home?Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,remaining in his harbors.
18. But Zebulun risked his life,as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
19. “The kings of Canaan came and fought,at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs,but they carried off no silver treasures.
20. The stars fought from heaven.The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
21. The Kishon River swept them away—that ancient torrent, the Kishon.March on with courage, my soul!
22. Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground,the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds.
23. ‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the lord.‘Let them be utterly cursed,because they did not come to help the lord—to help the lord against the mighty warriors.’