« | Judges 5 | » |
1 On the day that the Israelites defeated Sisera, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 "The men of Israel prepared for battle. They volunteered to go to war. Praise the Lord!
3 "Listen, kings. Pay attention, rulers. I will sing. I myself will sing to the Lord. I will make music to the Lord, to the God of the Israelites.
4 "Lord, in the past you came from Seir. You marched from the land of Edom. You marched and the earth shook. The skies rained. The clouds dropped water.
5 The mountains shook before the Lord, the God of Mount Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel!
6 "In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, the main roads were empty. Caravans and travelers traveled on the back roads.
7 "There were no soldiers in Israel until you came, Deborah, until you came to be a mother to Israel.
8 "God chose new leaders to fight at the city gates. No one could find a shield or a spear among the 40,000 soldiers of Israel.
9 "My heart is with the commanders of Israel. They volunteered to go to war. Praise the Lord!
10 "Pay attention you people riding on white donkeys, sitting on saddle blankets, and walking along the road.
11 At the watering holes for the animals, we hear the music of cymbals. People sing about the victories of the Lord, the victories of his soldiers in Israel when the Lord's people fought at the city gates and won!
12 "Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing the song! Get up, Barak! Go capture your enemies, son of Abinoam!
13 "Now, survivors, go to the leaders. People of the Lord, come with me and the soldiers.
14 "The men of Ephraim came from the hill country of Amalek. Benjamin, those men followed you and your people. And there were commanders from the family of Makir. Leaders from the tribe of Zebulun came with their bronze clubs.
15 The leaders of Issachar were with Deborah. The family of Issachar was true to Barak. Those men marched to the valley on foot. "Reuben, there are many brave soldiers in your army groups.
16 So why did you sit there against the walls of your sheep pens? The brave soldiers of Reuben thought hard about war. But they stayed home listening to the music they played for their sheep.
17 The people of Gilead stayed in their camps on the other side of the Jordan River. As for you, people of Dan, why did you stay by your ships? The people of Asher remained by the sea, camped near their safe harbors.
18 "But the men of Zebulun and Naphtali risked their lives fighting on those hills.
19 The kings of Canaan came to fight, but they didn't carry any treasures home. They fought at the city of Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo.
20 The stars fought them from heaven. From their paths across the sky, they fought against Sisera.
21 The Kishon River, that ancient river, swept Sisera's men away. My soul, march on with strength!
22 The horses' hooves hammered the ground. Sisera's mighty horses ran and ran.
23 "The Angel of the Lord said, "Curse the city of Meroz. Curse its people! They did not come with soldiers to help the Lord."
24 Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite. She will be blessed above all women.
25 Sisera asked for water. Jael gave him milk. In a bowl fit for a ruler, she brought him cream.
26 Then Jael reached out and took a tent peg. Her right hand reached for a workman's hammer. She put the peg against the side of Sisera's head and hit it with the hammer.
27 He sank down between Jael's feet. He fell, and there he lay. He sank down between her feet. He fell there. Where Sisera sank, he fell, and there he lay, dead!
28 "There is Sisera's mother, looking out the window, looking through the curtains and crying. 'Why is Sisera's chariot so late? Why can't I hear his wagons?'
29 "Her wisest servant girl answers her. Yes, the servant gives her an answer:
30 'I'm sure they won the war, and they are now taking things from the people they defeated. They are dividing those things among themselves. Each soldier is taking a girl or two. Maybe Sisera found a piece of dyed cloth. That's it! Sisera found a piece of fancy cloth, or maybe two, to wear around his neck in victory.'
31 "May all your enemies die like this, Lord! But may all those who love you be as strong as the rising sun!" And there was peace in the land for 40 years.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.