The songs of the Old Testament translated into English measures, preseruing the naturall phrase and genuine sense of the holy text: and with as little circumlocution as in most prose translations. To euery song is added a new and easie tune, and a short prologue also, deliuering the effect and vse thereof, for this profit of vnlearned readers. By George Wither. Cum priuilegio permissu superiorum.

THE Song of Deborah and Barak. Iudges 5. (Book 3)

The Argument and Vse.

IN the booke of Iudges, Chapter 4. you may read, that the ouerthrow giuen to Sisera (by Deborah and Barak) occasioned this Song of deliuerance; and therefore, referring you thither to be informed concerning the par∣ticular circumstances; I will here, shew you the generall scope of this Hymne, to be a Thankesgiuing, for a great ouerthrow, gotten on their enemies. Wherein ma∣ny things are remarkable. First, in their Introduction,

attributing the glory to God, (and inciting all Poten∣tates of the world to consider it) they set forth with what Maiestie the LORD came to their deliue∣rance. Secondly, the excellency of the benefit recei∣ued, is illustrated, by the great desolation they were formerly in▪ the little meanes they had to protect them∣selues, and the happie tranquillity which they should afterward enioy. Thirdly, they shew the cause of their former distresse, to haue beene Apostacie from God. Fourthly, they memorize those, who were forward in that iust warre, and vpbraid such as drew backe in so good a cause. Fiftly, they declare what powerfull enemies they had; and what miraculous assistance God vouchsafed. Sixtly, a curse is denounced against such as refuse to fight the LORDS battailes; and She is blessed who was the happy Instrument of their deliue∣ry. Lastly, here is a description of the manner of Sise∣rah's death, an Ironicall expression of the Aduersaries vaine hope of preuailing, and a propheticall imprecati∣on, that all Gods enemies may so perish, to the aduance∣ment of his Church.

Jt is obserued by the Auncients; that there is no Song mentioned in the Old or New Testament, but it was composed vpon some extraordinary benefit or deli∣uerance, which the Church receiued: and that in all the songs of the old Testament (especially) there is (beside the plaine literall sence) some Mistery of the Christian Religion prophetically aymed at, couertly or openly, vn∣der the passages thereof. And therefore, this Song is not onely to be sung of vs Christians, to glorifie God in memorizing his protecting our mother the Church, among the Iewish Nation, in her Infancie: But, wee are to vse it also, as a thanks-giuing for euery particular deliuerance, which is vouchsafed to the visible Church

in these times. As in memoriall of our miraculous pre∣seruation, in the yeare 1588. when our Princely De∣borah (the Queene of this kingdome) gaue an ouer∣throw to the Spanish Sisera: For then, the powers of heauen apparantly fought against him (as it is said in this Song.) The Sea, more terrible then their brooke Kishon, swept most of them away: And euen then (as the mother of the Cananitish commander, is here scoffed at by Deborah, for her vaine expectation: So, the whore of Babilon (who was mother to that other Sisera) in vaine longed to behold him returne a con∣querour: till being ridiculously confident of the spoile; she was by the true Church laughed to scorne for her presumption. And then also; this propheticall impreca∣cation (which) we finde in the Epilogue of this Song) was partly fulfilled. Thine enemies oh LORD shall perish; but they that loue thee shall be as the Sunne when he riseth in his might. For, as the first Sisera was shamefully ruined by a woman: so, God gaue that last Sisera (with his seeming inuincible for∣ces) into the hand of a woman, whose honour (with his shame) was thereby spread through as great a part of the world, as the Sunne shineth ouer at mid-day.

This Song (as J said before) would properly be sung also vpon many other deliuerances which the Church hath or may haue. As for that of the powder-Treason and such like. For were it not that J should be ouer∣large in my Prologue to this Song, J could make it very probable, how the holy Ghost, was so farre from making this Hymne to fit the Iewes after that victory onely; as that the names therein mentioned, doe well enough expresse any that are, or shall be In∣struments against the peace of Gods Church, or for the protection thereof.

The Song.

Then sang Deborah, and Barak the sonne of Abinoam on that day▪ saying:

〈♫〉〈♫〉 SIng praises to the Lord That Isre'l to acquite, The people of their owne ac-cord Went forth vnto the fight: You Kings giue eare, you Princes heare, I to the Lord will raise

My voyce aloud, and sing to God The Lord of Isr'ell prayse. 〈♫〉〈♫〉

LORD, when thou wentst from Seir, When thou lef'st Edom field; Earth shooke, and heauen dropped there, The Clouds did water yeeld, LORD, at thy sight a trembling fright, Vpon the Mountaines fell: And at thy looke, Mount Sinai shooke, LORD God of Jsrael.

Erewhile in Shamghar's dayes, Old Anah's valiant sonne, And late in Jaels time, the wayes Frequented were of none; The passengers were wanderers In crooked pathes vnknowne; And none durst dwell, through Jsrael But in a walled towne.

Vntill I Deborah 'rose. I rose a mother here In Jsr'el, when new Gods they chose That fil'd their gates with warre.

And they had there nor shield nor speare, In their possession then; To arme for fight, one Israelite, 'Mong forty thousand men.

My hearts affection, set On Israels Leaders is; Who with the willing people met, Oh praise the LORD for this. Sing all of yee, who vsed be, To ride on Asses gray: All you that yet in Middin si••, Or trauaile by the way.

Where they their water drew, Those places being cleare From noyse of Archers; Let them shew The LORD's vprightnes there. Through Jsrael all, the hamlets shall His righteousnesse record: And downe vnto the gates shall goe, The people of the LORD.

Rise Deborah, arise, Rise, rise, and sing a song, Abinoams sonne, oh Barak rise; Thy Captiues lead along. By him made thrall, their Princes all, To the Suruiuer be, To triumph on the mightie one; The LORD vouchsafed me.

A root from Ephraim, Gainst Amaleck arose,

And of the people next to him, The Beniamites were those. From Machir, where good leaders are, Came well experienc't men: And they came downe from Zabulon That handle well the penne.

With Deborah did goe The Lords of Isachar, Eu'n Isachar; and Barak to, Was one among them there; Who forth was sent, and downe he went, On foote the lower way. In Ruben there, diuisions were, Great thoughts of heart had they.

The bleating flockes to heare Oh wherefore didst thou stay? In Ruben there diuisions were, Great thoughts of heart had they. And why did they of Gilead stay, On Iordan's other side? Or what was than, the reason Dan, Did in his Tents abide?

Among his harbours nigh The sea, there Asher lay; But Zabulon, nor Nepthali. Did keepe themselues away: These people are, who fearelesse dare Their liues to death expose; And would not yeeld the hilly-field, Yet Kings did them oppose.

The Cananitish Kings, At Tana'ch fought that day, Close by Megiddoes water-springs; Yet bore no prize away. The Starres from out the heauens fought, Gainst Sisera they stroue: They in their course, and some with force, Away brocke Kishon droue;

Old Kishon, that was long A famous Torrent knowne. Oh thou my soule, oh thou the strong Hast brauely trodden downe! Their horses by their prauncing high, Their broken hoofes did wound; Those of the strong, that kickt and flung, And fiercely beat the ground.

A curse on Meroz lay, Curst let her dwellers be; The Angell of the LORD, doth say, Extreamely curse it yee. The cause of this accursing is, They came not to the fight, To helpe the LORD, to help the LORD, Against the men of might.

But Iael, Hebers Spouse, The Kenite, blest be she, More then all women more then those, That vse in Tents to be. To him doth she, giue milke when he Doth but for water wish:

She butterfets, and forth it sets Vpon a Lordly dish.

Her left hand reacht a Nayle, A workmans hammer streight Her right hand takes, and therewithall, She Sisera doth smite. His head she tooke, when she had strooke His pierced temples through; He fell withall, and in the fall, Hee at her feete did bow▪

He at her feete did bow, Whom falling life forsooke; And Sisera his mother now, Doth from her window looke. Thus cries she at the lattice grate, Why staies his Charr'ot so, Returning home? oh wherefore come, His Charr'ot wheeles so slowe?

There-with her Ladies wise, To her an answere gaue; Yea, to her selfe, her selfe replies, Sure sped, saith she, they haue. And all this while, they part the spoile; A damzell one or twaie Each homeward beares, and Sisera shares, A particolour'd pray.

A pray discolour'd trimme, And wrought with paintings rare: Wrought through; and for the necke of him That taketh spoiles to weare.

So LORD, still so, thy foes ore'throw, But who in thee delight, Oh let them be, Sunne-like, when he Ascendeth in his might.