Song of Solomon 1
Solomon's song of songs.
2 Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy breasts are better than wine,
Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3 Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured out: therefore young maidens have loved thee.
I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation—it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore you!
4 Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. The king hath brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, remembering thy breasts more than wine: the righteous love thee.
Take me by the hand—let's run! (The king has brought me to his bedroom.) Let's be happy together and find pleasure in your love. Your love is far better than wine! Women are right to adore you so!
5 I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun hath altered my colour: the sons of my mother have fought against me, they have made me the keeper in the vineyards: my vineyard I have not kept.
Don't look down on me because I'm black, because the sun has burned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, so I couldn't look after my own vineyard.
7 Shew me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of thy companions.
My love, please tell me where you're taking your flock. Where will you rest them at noon? For why should I have to wear a veil while looking for you among the flocks of your companions?
8 If thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the tents of the shepherds.
If you really don't know, you who are more beautiful than any other woman, then follow the tracks of my flock, and let your goats graze near the shepherd's tents.
9 To my company of horsemen, in Pharao’s chariots, have I likened thee, O my love.
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
10 Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove’s, thy neck as jewels.
Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver.
Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
12 While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the odour thereof.
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
14 A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold thou art fair, O my love, behold thou art fair, thy eyes are as those of doves.
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
16 Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is flourishing.
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
17 The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.
with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
