16Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—
to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?
Yes, in the tribe of Reuben
there was great indecision.
17Gilead remained east of the Jordan.
And why did Dan stay home?
Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,
remaining in his harbors.
18But 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.
20The stars fought from heaven.
The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
21The Kishon River swept them away—
that ancient torrent, the Kishon.
March on with courage, my soul!
22Then 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.’
24“Most blessed among women is Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite.
May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.
25Sisera asked for water,
and she gave him milk.
In a bowl fit for nobles,
she brought him yogurt.
26Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg,
and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer.
She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head.
With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.
27He sank, he fell,
he lay still at her feet.
And where he sank,
there he died.
28“From the window Sisera’s mother looked out.
Through the window she watched for his return, saying,
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?’
29“Her wise women answer,
and she repeats these words to herself:
30‘They must be dividing the captured plunder—
with a woman or two for every man.
There will be colorful robes for Sisera,
and colorful, embroidered robes for me.
Yes, the plunder will include
colorful robes embroidered on both sides.’
31“Lord, may all your enemies die like Sisera!
But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!”
Then there was peace in the land for forty years.
