以色列人选择新的神明，便战祸临门，四万以色列人中找不到一矛一盾。

以色列人选择新神，争战的事就临到城门。那时，以色列四万人中岂能见盾牌枪矛呢？

以色列人选择新的诸神，战争就临到城门。以色列四万人中，看得见盾牌枪矛吗？

以色列人选择新的诸神，战争就临到城门。以色列四万人中，看得见盾牌枪矛吗？

以色列人选择了新的神，战争就临近城门；那时四万以色列人中，竟不见有一面盾牌、一枝长矛。

以色列人選擇新神，爭戰的事就臨到城門。那時，以色列四萬人中豈能見盾牌槍矛呢？

以色列人選擇新的諸神，戰爭就臨到城門。以色列四萬人中，看得見盾牌槍矛嗎？

以色列人選擇新的諸神，戰爭就臨到城門。以色列四萬人中，看得見盾牌槍矛嗎？

以色列人選擇新的神明，便戰禍臨門，四萬以色列人中找不到一矛一盾。

以色列人選擇了新的神，戰爭就臨近城門；那時四萬以色列人中，竟不見有一面盾牌、一枝長矛。

以色列選擇了新士師，戰爭就迫到城門口；在以色列四萬人中、竟不見有一面盾牌、一桿槍矛？

民簡新神、戰及邑門、以色列族四萬人中、干戈無存、

在昔斯民、特簡素所未識之上帝、於是戰鬥及於門內、當此之時以色列族四萬人中、欲求一干戈而不得。

斯民選擇新神、戰遂及於邑門、以色列四萬人中、不見干與戈、

God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

War came to the city gates. Then God chose new leaders. But no shields or spears were seen anywhere. There weren’t any among 40,000 men in Israel.

When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?

When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel!

Israel chose new gods, then there was war in the city gates. Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

New gods were chosen; Then war was in the gates. Not a shield or a spear was seen Among forty thousand in Israel.

They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.

They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?

Israel chose new gods, then war was in the gates. Not a shield or spear was seen among 40,000 in Israel.

They chose new gods; then[ was] war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

God chose new leaders, then fighters appeared in the city gates; but, I swear, not a shield or spear could be found, among forty military units in Israel.

They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

他们背弃了领他们祖先离开埃及的上帝耶和华，追随、祭拜邻邦的各种神明，因而惹耶和华发怒。

他们拜外族的神明，令祂愤恨；行可憎之事，惹祂发怒。他们祭拜的不是真神，而是鬼魔，是他们素不认识的新神明，是他们祖先所不敬畏的。

但他们不听从士师的话，与其他神明苟合，祭拜它们，很快偏离他们祖先的道路，没有像他们的祖先那样遵行耶和华的命令。

那时，以色列全境找不到一个铁匠，这是因为非利士人的禁令，以免希伯来人制造刀枪。以色列人都要到非利士的铁匠那里去磨锄、犁、斧和铲。磨锄或犁要花八克银子，磨三齿叉、斧头或赶畜棒要花四克银子。所以在交战的日子，除了扫罗和约拿单外，其他以色列人手上都没有刀枪。

耶宾王拥有九百辆铁战车，他残暴地压迫以色列人二十年。以色列人向耶和华呼求。