< Song of Solomon 1 >

1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.
Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy caresses are more pleasant than wine.
3 Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.
To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee! — The king hath brought me into his chambers — We will be glad and rejoice in thee, We will remember thy love more than wine. They love thee uprightly.
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 black, but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.
Black am I, yet comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black; Because the sun hath looked upon me. My mother's children were angry with me: They made me keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.
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, thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest it to rest at noon; For why should I be as one veiled Beside the flocks of thy 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 thou know not, thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' booths.
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 thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.
Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with bead-rows, Thy neck with ornamental chains.
Comely are thy cheeks between strings [of pearls], thy neck with rows [of jewels].
11 We will make thee bead-rows of gold With studs of silver.
Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs of silver.—
12 While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.
A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
14 My beloved is unto me a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of Engedi.
A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the vineyards of 'En-gedi.—
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are doves.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
17 The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters are cypresses.
The beams of our houses are cedars and our wainscoting of cypress-trees.

< Song of Solomon 1 >