< Song of Solomon 1 >
1 Solomon's song of songs.
The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, The woman speaking to the man for your 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!
Your anointing oils have a delightful fragrance; your name is like flowing perfume, so the young women love you.
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!
Take me with you, and we will run. The woman speaking to herself The king has brought me into his rooms. The woman speaking to the man We are glad; We rejoice about you; let us celebrate your love; it is better than wine. It is natural for the other women to adore you.
5 I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
I am dark but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem— dark like the tents of Kedar, lovely like 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.
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have 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, you whom my soul loves, where do you feed your flock? Where do you rest your flock at noontime? Why should I be like someone who wanders beside the flocks of your 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.
If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of my flock, and pasture your young goats near the shepherds' tents.
9 My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariot horses.
10 Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
We will make for you gold ornaments with silver studs.
12 As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
While the king lay on his couch, my nard emitted its fragrance.
13 My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
My beloved is to me like a bag of myrrh that spends the night lying between my breasts.
14 My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
My beloved is to me like a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of En Gedi.
15 Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
Listen, you are beautiful, my love; listen, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
16 And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
Listen, you are handsome, my beloved, how handsome. The lush plants are our bed.
17 with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs.