Song of Solomon 1
The Song of Songs, which is by Solomon.
2 Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy breasts are better than wine,
[[M.]] O that he would kiss me with one of the kisses of his mouth! For thy love is better than wine.
3 Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured out: therefore young maidens have loved thee.
Because of the savor of thy precious perfumes, (Thy name is like fragrant oil poured forth, ) Therefore do the virgins love thee.
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.
Draw me after thee; let us run! The king hath led me to his chambers! We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will praise thy love more than wine. Justly do they love thee!
5 I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, as 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.
Gaze not upon me because I am black, Because the sun hath looked upon me! My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; My vineyard, my own, have I not kept.
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.
Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou leadest it to rest at noon; For why should I be like a veiled one by the flocks of thy 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.
[[Lad.]] If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Trace thou thy way by the tracks of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents!
9 To my company of horsemen, in Pharao’s chariots, have I likened thee, O my love.
[[Lov.]] To the horses in the chariots of Pharaoh Do I compare thee, my love!
10 Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove’s, thy neck as jewels.
Comely are thy cheeks with rows of jewels, Thy neck with strings of pearls.
11 We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver.
Golden chains will we make for thee, With studs of silver.
12 While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the odour thereof.
[[M.]] While the king reclineth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.
A bunch of myrrh is my beloved to me; He shall abide between my breasts.
14 A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna-flowers From the gardens of Engedi.
15 Behold thou art fair, O my love, behold thou art fair, thy eyes are as those of doves.
[[Lov.]] Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves.
16 Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is flourishing.
[[M.]] Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, lovely; And green is our bed.
17 The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.
The cedars are the beams of our house, And its roof the cypresses.
