< Song of Solomon 1 >
1 The Song of songs, which is Solomon's.
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.
Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy caresses are more pleasant than wine.
3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, therefore the virgins love you.
To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.
4 Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine. They are right to love you.
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.—
5 I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar's tents, like Solomon's curtains.
Black am I, yet comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 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. I haven't kept my own vineyard.
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.—
7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?
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?—
8 If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds' tents.
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.—
9 I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.
Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
Comely are thy cheeks between strings [of pearls], thy neck with rows [of jewels].
11 We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.
Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs of silver.—
12 While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.
A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the vineyards of 'En-gedi.—
15 Look, you are beautiful, my love. Look, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
16 Look, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
17 The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
The beams of our houses are cedars and our wainscoting of cypress-trees.