Song of Solomon 1
Solomon's song of songs.
2 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is better then wine.
Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointment powred out: therefore the virgins loue 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 Drawe me: we will runne after thee: the King hath brought me into his chabers: we will reioyce and be glad in thee: we will remember thy loue more then wine: the righteous do loue 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 blacke, O daughters of Ierusalem, but comely, as the tentes of Kedar, and as the curtaines of Salomon.
I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Regard ye me not because I am blacke: for the sunne hath looked vpon mee. The sonnes of my mother were angry against mee: they made me the keeper of ye vines: but I kept not mine owne vine.
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 Shewe me, O thou, whome my soule loueth, where thou feedest, where thou liest at noone: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flockes 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 knowe not, O thou the fairest among women, get thee foorth by the steps of the flocke, and feede thy kiddes by the tents of the shepheards.
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 I haue compared thee, O my loue, to the troupe of horses in the charets of Pharaoh.
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
10 Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones, and thy necke with chaines.
Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make thee borders of golde with studdes of siluer.
Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
12 Whiles the King was at his repast, my spikenard gaue the smelll thereof.
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
13 My welbeloued is as a bundle of myrrhe vnto me: he shall lie betweene my breasts.
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
14 My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi.
My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 My loue, beholde, thou art faire: beholde, thou art faire: thine eyes are like the doues.
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
16 My welbeloued, beholde, thou art faire and pleasant: also our bed is greene:
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
17 The beames of our house are cedars, our rafters are of firre.
with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
