Cecineruntque Debbora et Barac filius Abinoëm in illo die, dicentes:

In that day Debbora and Barac son of Abinoem sung, and said:

Joyfully sang Debbora that day, and Barac the son of Abinoem with her; and this was her song.

Qui sponte obtulistis de Israël animas vestras ad periculum, benedicite Domino.

O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, bless the Lord.

Here are Israelites that freely put their lives in peril; bless we the Lord!

Audite, reges; auribus percipite, principes: ego sum, ego sum, quæ Domino canam, psallam Domino Deo Israël.

Hear, O ye kings, give ear, ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord, I will sing to the Lord the God of Israel.

A word to you, kings; princes, this is for your hearing; the Lord is my theme, it is of the Lord God of Israel that I sing.

Domine, cum exires de Seir, et transires per regiones Edom, terra mota est, cælique ac nubes distillaverunt aquis.

O Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, and passedst by the regions of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped water.

Lord, when thou didst come forth from mount Seir, and pass on thy way over Edom, how the earth shook, how fast the rain fell from skies wrapped in cloud!

Montes fluxerunt a facie Domini, et Sinai a facie Domini Dei Israël.

The mountains melted before the face of the Lord, and Sinai before the face of the Lord the God of Israel.

How the hills, how Sinai itself melted away as the Lord came, the Lord God of Israel!

In diebus Samgar filii Anath, in diebus Jahel quieverunt semitæ: et qui ingrediebantur per eas, ambulaverunt per calles devios.

In the days of Samgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jahel the paths rested: and they that went by them, walked through by-ways.

In the time of Samgar son of Anath, in the time of Jahel, all the roads lay unfrequented; those that used them once must now travel by bridle-paths.

Cessaverunt fortes in Israël, et quieverunt: donec surgeret Debbora, surgeret mater in Israël.

The valiant men ceased, and rested in Israel: until Debbora arose, a mother arose in Israel.

Gone was the warrior breed, lost to the country-side, until Debbora came, Debbora, that played a mother’s part in Israel.

Nova bella elegit Dominus, et portas hostium ipse subvertit: clypeus et hasta si apparuerint in quadraginta millibus Israël.

The Lord chose new wars, and he himself overthrew the gates of the enemies: a shield and spear was not seen among forty thousand of Israel.

Strange warfare this, of God’s own choosing, when he himself must overthrow the enemy’s ramparts; among the sons of Israel, not one in forty thousand carried shield or spear.

Cor meum diligit principes Israël: qui propria voluntate obtulistis vos discrimini, benedicite Domino.

My heart loveth the princes of Israel: O you that of your own good will offered yourselves to danger, bless the Lord.

My heart goes out to you, chieftains of Israel; it is for you, who freely put your lives in peril, to bless the Lord;

Qui ascenditis super nitentes asinos, et sedetis in judicio, et ambulatis in via, loquimini.

Speak, you that ride upon fair asses, and you that sit in judgment, and walk in the way.

for you to speak, you that hold the judge’s office, and have white asses to ride when you go on your travels.

Ubi collisi sunt currus, et hostium suffocatus est exercitus, ibi narrentur justitiæ Domini, et clementia in fortes Israël: tunc descendit populus Domini ad portas, et obtinuit principatum.

Where the chariots were dashed together, and the army of the enemies was choked, there let the justices of the Lord be rehearsed, and his clemency towards the brave men of Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the gates, and obtained the sovereignty.

There, where the chariots broke, there, where the enemy’s host was drowned, let the story of the Lord’s mercies be told, the favour he shewed to the warriors of Israel. Down to the city gates they went, the people of the Lord, and won the mastery.

Surge, surge Debbora; surge, surge, et loquere canticum: surge Barac, et apprehende captivos tuos, fili Abinoëm.

Arise, arise, O Debbora, arise, arise, and utter a canticle. Arise, Barac, and take hold of thy captives, O son of Abinoem.

Up, up, bestir thyself, Debbora; bestir thyself, and chant the battle-hymn! Rouse thee, Barac, son of Abinoem, thy prey awaits thee!

Salvatæ sunt reliquiæ populi: Dominus in fortibus dimicavit.

The remnants of the people are saved, the Lord hath fought among the valiant ones.

It was but the remnant of a people that won the day, but the Lord himself fought among their warriors.

Ex Ephraim delevit eos in Amalec, et post eum ex Benjamin in populos tuos, o Amalec: de Machir principes descenderunt, et de Zabulon qui exercitum ducerent ad bellandum.

Out of Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec, and after him out of Benjamin into thy people, O Amalec: Out of Machir there came down princes, and out of Zabulon they that led the army to fight.

All the remnant of Ephraim had Amalec to detain them; against Amalec’s tribes Benjamin, too, was matched. But chieftains came from Manasses, marshallers of the host from Zabulon;

Duces Issachar fuere cum Debbora, et Barac vestigia sunt secuti, qui quasi in præceps ac barathrum se discrimini dedit: diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.

The captains of Issachar were with Debbora, and followed the steps of Barac, who exposed himself to danger, as one going headlong, and into a pit. Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.

the leaders of Issachar, too, were at Debbora’s side, and followed Barac into danger, as he rushed headlong down from the steep. But what of Ruben? Here there was division of counsel among brave hearts.

Quare habitas inter duos terminos, ut audias sibilos gregum? diviso contra se Ruben, magnanimorum reperta est contentio.

Why dwellest thou between two borders, that thou mayest hear the bleatings of the flocks? Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.

What, wouldst thou sit there between fold and fold, and listen to the shepherds piping to their flocks? Alas, for hearts so brave, and counsels so divided!

Galaad trans Jordanem quiescebat, et Dan vacabat navibus: Aser habitabat in littore maris, et in portubus morabatur.

Galaad rested beyond the Jordan, and Dan applied himself to ships: Aser dwelt on the sea shore, and abode in the havens.

Galaad took his ease on the further bank of Jordan, and Dan was busy with his merchant ventures; Aser, too, lingered by the sea-shore, safe in his harbour-towns.

Zabulon vero et Nephthali obtulerunt animas suas morti in regione Merome.

But Zabulon and Nephtali offered their lives to death in the region of Merome.

Meanwhile, Zabulon and Nephthali were putting their lives in peril, there on the uplands of Merome.

Venerunt reges et pugnaverunt: pugnaverunt reges Chanaan in Thanach juxta aquas Mageddo, et tamen nihil tulere prædantes.

The kings came and fought, the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanach by the waters of Mageddo, and yet they took no spoils.

So the kings came down to battle, the kings of Chanaan, there at Taanach by the waters of Mageddo, but spoil had they none.

De cælo dimicatum est contra eos: stellæ manentes in ordine et cursu suo, adversus Sisaram pugnaverunt.

War from heaven was made against them, the stars remaining in their order and courses fought against Sisara.

Heaven itself was their adversary; the stars in their ordered course did battle against Sisara.

Torrens Cison traxit cadavera eorum, torrens Cadumim, torrens Cison: conculca, anima mea, robustos.

The torrent of Cison dragged their carcasses, the torrent of Cadumim, the torrent of Cison: tread thou, my soul, upon the strong ones.

Cison river bore away the corpses of them, river of the Cadumim, Cison river; trample on them, Debbora, warriors so valiant till now!

Ungulæ equorum ceciderunt, fugientibus impetu, et per præceps ruentibus fortissimis hostium.

The hoofs of the horses were broken whilst the stoutest of the enemies fled amain, and fell headlong down.

The horses’ hoofs lost their footing, so swiftly they fled, thundering down the slopes with the flower of the enemy’s host behind them.

Maledicite terræ Meroz, dixit angelus Domini: maledicite habitatoribus ejus, quia non venerunt ad auxilium Domini, in adjutorium fortissimorum ejus.

Curse ye the land of Meroz, said the angel of the Lord: curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to help his most valiant men.

Curse the land of Meroz, the angel of the Lord says, a curse on all that dwell in it! Here were men that would not rally in the Lord’s cause, would not come to aid his champions in their peril.

Benedicta inter mulieres Jahel uxor Haber Cinæi, et benedicatur in tabernaculo suo.

Blessed among women be Jahel the wife of Haber the Cinite, and blessed be she in her tent.

But Jahel, wife of Haber the Cinite, blessed may she be above all women; a blessing on the tent she dwells in!

Aquam petenti lac dedit, et in phiala principum obtulit butyrum.

He asked her water and she gave him milk, and offered him butter in a dish fit for princes.

One came by and asked her for water; but no, she would give him milk; whey should be brought out for him in such a cup as kings use.

Sinistram manum misit ad clavum, et dexteram ad fabrorum malleos. Percussitque Sisaram quærens in capite vulneri locum, et tempus valide perforans:

She put her left hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workman’s hammer, and she struck Sisara, seeking in his head a place for the wound, and strongly piercing through his temples.

A nail is in her left hand, a carpenter’s mallet in her right; now to smite Sisara, now to find the place for a mortal blow! See with what strength she pierces his forehead through!

inter pedes ejus ruit; defecit, et mortuus est: volvebatur ante pedes ejus, et jacebat exanimis et miserabilis.

At her feet he fell: he fainted, and he died: he rolled before her feet, and he lay lifeless and wretched.

There he lies at her feet, helpless in death, rolls there at her feet lifeless, a thing of pity to see!

Per fenestram respiciens, ululabat mater ejus: et de cœnaculo loquebatur: Cur moratur regredi currus ejus? quare tardaverunt pedes quadrigarum illius?

His mother looked out at a window, and howled: and she spoke from the dining room: Why is his chariot so long in coming back? Why are the feet of his horses so slow?

Long may his mother look down from that parlour window of hers, crying out on the chariot that never returns, the sound of horses’ hoofs that still does not come.

Una sapientior ceteris uxoribus ejus, hæc socrui verba respondit:

One that was wiser than the rest of his wives, returned this answer to her mother in law:

Long may some princess try to comfort her, with wiser counsel than the rest:

Forsitan nunc dividit spolia, et pulcherrima feminarum eligitur ei: vestes diversorum colorum Sisaræ traduntur in prædam, et supellex varia ad ornanda colla congeritur.

Perhaps he is now dividing the spoils, and the fairest of the women is chosen out for him: garments of divers colours are given to Sisara for his prey, and furniture of different kinds is heaped together to adorn the necks.

Even now, like enough, he is dividing up the spoil, of the captive women choosing out the fairest; Sisara shall have embroidered garments for his share; see the pile of necklaces that lies there, so intricate in design!

Sic pereant omnes inimici tui, Domine: qui autem diligunt te, sicut sol in ortu suo splendet, ita rutilent.

So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love thee shine, as the sun shineth in his rising.

So perish all thy enemies, Lord; and may all those who love thee shine out glorious as the sun’s rising!

Quievitque terra per quadraginta annos.

And the land rested for forty years.

And so for forty years the land was at peace.