< Song of Solomon 1 >
1 Solomon's song of songs.
The Song of Songs, which is by Solomon.
2 Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter 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 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!
Because of the savor of thy precious perfumes, (Thy name is like fragrant oil poured forth, ) Therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 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!
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'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like 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 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.
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 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?
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 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.
[[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 My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
[[Lov.]] To the horses in the chariots of Pharaoh Do I compare thee, my love!
10 Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
Comely are thy cheeks with rows of jewels, Thy neck with strings of pearls.
11 Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
Golden chains will we make for thee, With studs of silver.
12 As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
[[M.]] While the king reclineth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
13 My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
A bunch of myrrh is my beloved to me; He shall abide between my breasts.
14 My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna-flowers From the gardens of Engedi.
15 Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
[[Lov.]] Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves.
16 And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
[[M.]] Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, lovely; And green is our bed.
17 with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
The cedars are the beams of our house, And its roof the cypresses.