Song of Solomon 1
1 This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy caresses are more pleasant than wine.
3 The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.
4 Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
Oh draw me, after thee will we run: the king hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will recall thy caresses, more [pleasant] than wine; without deceit [all] love thee.—
5 I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
Black am I, yet comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
Look not so at me, because I am somewhat black, because the sun hath looked fiercely at me: my mother's children were angry with me; they appointed me to be keeper of the vineyards; but my vineyard, which is my own, have I not kept.—
7 Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest? where lettest thou thy flock rest at noon? for why should I appear like a veiled mourner by the flocks of thy companions?—
8 If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
If thou knowest this not, O thou fairest of women, go but forth in the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids around the shepherds' dwellings.—
9 I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
10 Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
Comely are thy cheeks between strings [of pearls], thy neck with rows [of jewels].
11 We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.
Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs of silver.—
12 While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the vineyards of 'En-gedi.—
15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
16 How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
17 The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are fragrant firs.
The beams of our houses are cedars and our wainscoting of cypress-trees.
