Song of Solomon 1
1 The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
3 Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy name is [as] ointment poured forth; therefore do the virgins love thee.
The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
4 Draw me; we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will make mention of thy love more than of wine: rightly do they love thee.
Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, because the sun hath scorched me. My mother’s sons were incensed against me, they made me keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest [thy flock], where thou makest [it] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that is veiled beside the flocks of thy companions?
Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with plaits [of hair], thy neck with strings of jewels
Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make thee plaits of gold with studs of silver.
We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.
12 While the king sat at his table, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance.
While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My beloved is unto me [as] a bundle of myrrh, that lieth betwixt my breasts.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me [as] a cluster of henna-flowers in the vineyards of En-gedi.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are [as] doves.
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our couch is green.
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
17 The beams of our house are cedars, [and] our rafters are firs.
The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are fragrant firs.
