Judges 4

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.

Once again, the children of Israel fell into wicked ways, breaking God's heart, after the death of Ehud.

And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

God sold them into the hands of King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled from Hazor. His military was led by Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

The children of Israel wept before the LORD, burdened by the oppressive rule of a king with nine hundred iron chariots. For two long decades, they suffered under his mighty hand.

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

Deborah, a prophetess and wife of Lapidoth, was the wise and fair leader of Israel during that era.

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

She lived beneath Deborah's palm tree, nestled between Ramah and Bethel on Mount Ephraim. The people of Israel sought her wisdom, coming to her for fair judgment.

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

She urgently summoned Barak, Abinoam's son, from Kedeshnaphtali, asking him, "Didn't the Lord, our God, instruct you to head towards Mount Tabor, leading ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun?"

And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

I will draw Sisera, the leader of Jabin's forces, out to you at the river Kishon, with his chariots and his army. Fear not, for I will ensure his defeat is at your hands.

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

Barak pleaded with her, "If you journey with me, I'll go. But without you by my side, I can't."

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

She confidently declared, "I will certainly accompany you. However, this journey won't bring you glory. God has destined a woman to defeat Sisera." With that, Deborah stood up and journeyed with Barak to Kedesh.

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

Barak passionately summoned the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. With a force of ten thousand men marching behind him, he ascended. Deborah, filled with courage, accompanied him.

Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

Heber, a Kenite and descendant of Moses' father-in-law, Hobab, had chosen to live apart from his people. He set up his home in the open fields of Zaanaim, near Kedesh.

And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.

They excitedly informed Sisera that Barak, Abinoam's son, had ascended to Mount Tabor.

And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

Sisera, with a heart full of determination, rallied his massive force of nine hundred iron chariots and his loyal followers. From Harosheth of the Gentiles, they marched all the way to the river of Kishon, a sight both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

Deborah, filled with divine assurance, told Barak, "Rise! Today, God has given you victory over Sisera. Can't you see? God is leading the way!" Inspired, Barak descended Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand loyal men.

And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

The Lord overwhelmed Sisera, along with his army and chariots, using the power of the sword through Barak. This caused Sisera to abandon his chariot in fear and escape on foot.

But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

Barak relentlessly chased the enemy's chariots and soldiers all the way to Harosheth, a foreign land. Every single one of Sisera's troops met their end by the sword, leaving not a single man standing.

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

Sisera, in fear, ran to Jael's tent, wife of Heber the Kenite, seeking refuge. There was a peaceful bond between King Jabin of Hazor and Heber's family.

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.

Jael bravely approached Sisera, inviting him in with a comforting voice, "Come in, my lord, don't be afraid." As he entered her tent, she gently draped a cloak over him.

And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

He pleaded with her, "Please, a sip of water, I'm parched." Touched, she offered him a bottle of milk instead, quenching his thirst and then gently tucked him in.

Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

He gently instructed her, "Position yourself at the tent's entrance. If anyone approaches and asks, 'Is there a man here?' simply respond, 'No'."

Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

With a heavy heart, Jael, Heber's wife, quietly picked up a tent nail and a hammer. Moving softly towards the sleeping and exhausted man, she drove the nail into his temple, pinning him to the ground. And just like that, he was gone.

And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

As Barak chased Sisera, Jael approached him with a solemn face, "Come, let me show you the man you're looking for." Barak entered her tent, and there lay Sisera, lifeless, with a nail driven into his head.

So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

On that day, God, with his mighty power, humbled King Jabin of Canaan, making him bow before the children of Israel.

And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

The children of Israel thrived and overcame King Jabin of Canaan, relentlessly fighting until they had completely defeated him.