The Song of Solomon Paraphrased, Part 5
The Song of Deborah.
Iudges 5.
Ver. 2.
PRaise ye the Lord (let it be said)
Who veng'ance to our foes repaid,
When you his people not affraid
Of life, so brave a tender made.
Ver. 3.
Ye Princes, ye your ear afford,
And ye who bear the Regal sword;
Whil'st I in sacred hymns record
The praise of Israels God, the Lord,
Ver. 4.
When he from Scir his Army led,
Through Edoms fields his Ensigns spred
Th'Earth shook, the Heavens dropt for dread,
The Clouds did tears in plenty shed.
Ver. 5.
The Mountains which before did swell,
Before thy face a melting fell,
Nor Sina could his force repel,
Who is the God of Israel.
Ver. 6.
In Shamgars time, and Iael's days,
(Shamgar I mean of Anaths race)
None durst frequent the common ways,
Fear did the Traveller amaze.
The high-ways then unsafe, men crept
Through Woods, or into by-ways stept,
Or went by night when others slept,
(Their Foes them in such thraldom
kept.)
Ver. 7.
The Land uncultivated lay,
In Isr'el men became a prey,
Till I arose, I Deborah,
Till I their Matron bore the sway.
Ver. 8.
When to themselves new Gods they chose,
Then were their walls beseig'd with foes
Though Isr'el forty thousand rose,
Was sheild or spear among all those?
Ver. 9.
Ye Rulers, O, how well I take,
(When your poor Country lay at stake)
Your zeal and valour for their sake
Of Gods renown, due mention make.
Ver. 10.
Spake ye, that on white Asses ride,
Now judging those that you defi'd;
And they that have the high-ways tride,
Now walking safe on every side.
Ver. 11.
Ye to your Fountains now restor'd,
Where you the Archers noyse deplor'd;
There with united joyes record
The righteous judgments of the Lord.
His righteous Acts do you profess,
Towards you his Israel, that possess
Your Cities, and your Villages,
Go down unto your gates in peace.
Ver. 12.
'Wake Deborah, wake, relate what's done,
Sing thou of our Salvation:
'Rise Barack, thou Abinoam's Son,
Isr'els renowned Champion.
Ver. 13.
Lead Captive thy Captivity;
Him that remain'd he set on high,
To rule o're the Nobility;
The Lord gave me the Victory.
Ver. 14.
From Ephraim thou a party gain'd,
Who their old principles retain'd;
Nor they from Benjamin refrain'd,
Who marched under thy command.
From Machir came down leading-men,
Such as had old Commanders been;
Zebulons ready-writers then,
Took up the Sword, and left the Pen.
No fears did Issachar dismay,
His princes were with Deborah,
Marching where Barack led the way,
VVhose service in the Valley lay.
Ver. 16.
But Ruben did our thoughts amuse,
Because divided, and did chuse
To hear the bleating of his Ewes,
And did the holy Wars refuse.
Ver. 17.
Gilead of thundring Drums afraid,
Or sloathful, beyond Iordan stay'd:
Dan more intent upon his trade,
Gat to his ships, deny'd his aid:
So Asher in his clifts resides,
And fortifies against the tides;
His eyes from publique danger hide,
Against his own alone provides.
Ver. 18.
Yet Zebulun and Naphtali,
Were men of spirits far more high,
(Not daunted with the Enemy,)
Nor shun'd the great jeopardy.
Ver. 19.
The Kings, even Canaan Kings came out
Their Armies up to Tanaach brought,
And by Megidda's waters fought,
Though for no gain but Israels rout.
Ver. 20.
… the Celestial Warriours,
Fought against Sisera, the Starrs
(Though in their courses free from jarrs)
Mov'd in Battalia, in those warrs.
Ver. 21.
Kishon that River so renown'd,
Swept them away not to be found:
Thou O my Soul, with conquest crown'd
Hast trod down Strength unto the ground.
Ver. 22.
Their Horses, such then prancing were
Either for fury, or for fear,
Their mightiest then their hoofs did tear,
Quite broken in their fierce carreer.
Ver. 23.
Curse Meroz, curse, an Angel cried,
That cursed crue that help denyed,
Refusing with the Lord to side,
Against the mighty sons of pride.
Ver. 24.
But Iael (from those curses free)
Heber the Kenites wife; O shee,
Then Women of what ere degree,
Shall in the Tents more blessed be.
Ver. 25.
He ask't but water from the Spring,
She gave him milk (a better thing;)
And Butter as unto a King,
She in a Lordly dish did bring.
Ver. 26.
But shee with courage fortifyed
Her hands to other work applyed,
Her self a sharp nail did provide,
The right the Workmans hammer guide:
So, through the Temples, Sisera
She having peirced, as he lay,
Smote off his head without dismay;
(Thus God to Israel gave the day.)
Ver. 27.
Down at her feet upon the floor
He bow'd, till he could bow no low'r;
Fell where he bow'd, bath'd in his gore;
Bow'd down, fell dead, and rose no more.
Ver. 28.
His Mother at the window stay'd,
And thrusting out her shoulders, said,
His Charet-wheels why thus delay'd,
That heretofore such haste have made!
Ver. 29.
But her wise Ladies standing by,
Yea, she her self did make reply,
Ver. 30.
Is't not because the Hebrews fly,
And he pursues victoriously?
Is not their stay their greatest gain,
That they returning on the slain,
A greater booty may obtain,
And every man a Girl or twain?
Whilst to great Sisera ther's brought
By his brave Captains with a shout,
The choice of all the prey, no doubt;
A prey with divers colours wrought:
Some peice of needle-work, suppose,
Whose curious work on both sides shows
Meet only for the necks of those,
That trample on their spoiled foes.
Ver. 31.
O Lord, so let thine Enemies,
All that against thy people rise,
And mischeif in their hearts devise,
Perish in every enterprize:
But they that love thee, O that they
Like to the Sun in lustre, may,
When in his strength he takes his way,
Appear more glorious, day by day.
FINIS.
End of the text · Arthur Hildersham, The Song of Solomon Paraphrased (1672)