Song of Solomon 1
1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy caresses are more pleasant than wine.
Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy breasts are better than wine,
3 To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.
Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured out: therefore young maidens have loved thee.
4 Oh draw me, after thee will we run: the king hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will recall thy caresses, more [pleasant] than wine; without deceit [all] love thee.—
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.
5 Black am I, yet comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not so at me, because I am somewhat black, because the sun hath looked fiercely at me: my mother's children were angry with me; they appointed me to be keeper of the vineyards; but my vineyard, which is my own, have I not kept.—
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.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest? where lettest thou thy flock rest at noon? for why should I appear like a veiled mourner by the flocks of thy companions?—
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.
8 If thou knowest this not, O thou fairest of women, go but forth in the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids around the shepherds' dwellings.—
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.
9 Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
To my company of horsemen, in Pharao’s chariots, have I likened thee, O my love.
10 Comely are thy cheeks between strings [of pearls], thy neck with rows [of jewels].
Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove’s, thy neck as jewels.
11 Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs of silver.—
We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the odour thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.
14 A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the vineyards of 'En-gedi.—
A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
15 Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
Behold thou art fair, O my love, behold thou art fair, thy eyes are as those of doves.
16 Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is flourishing.
17 The beams of our houses are cedars and our wainscoting of cypress-trees.
The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.
