Canticum Canticorum 1
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 osculetur me osculo oris sui quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino
Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy caresses are more pleasant than wine.
3 fraglantia unguentis optimis oleum effusum nomen tuum ideo adulescentulae dilexerunt te
To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.
4 trahe me post te curremus introduxit me rex in cellaria sua exultabimus et laetabimur in te memores uberum tuorum super vinum recti diligunt te
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 nigra sum sed formonsa filiae Hierusalem sicut tabernacula Cedar sicut pelles Salomonis
Black am I, yet comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 nolite me considerare quod fusca sim quia decoloravit me sol filii matris meae pugnaverunt contra me posuerunt me custodem in vineis vineam meam non custodivi
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 indica mihi quem diligit anima mea ubi pascas ubi cubes in meridie ne vagari incipiam per greges sodalium tuorum
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 si ignoras te o pulchra inter mulieres egredere et abi post vestigia gregum et pasce hedos tuos iuxta tabernacula pastorum
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 equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis adsimilavi te amica mea
Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
10 pulchrae sunt genae tuae sicut turturis collum tuum sicut monilia
Comely are thy cheeks between strings [of pearls], thy neck with rows [of jewels].
11 murenulas aureas faciemus tibi vermiculatas argento
Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs of silver.—
12 dum esset rex in accubitu suo nardus mea dedit odorem suum
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
13 fasciculus murrae dilectus meus mihi inter ubera mea commorabitur
A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
14 botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi
A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the vineyards of 'En-gedi.—
15 ecce tu pulchra es amica mea ecce tu pulchra oculi tui columbarum
Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
16 ecce tu pulcher es dilecte mi et decorus lectulus noster floridus
Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
17 tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina laquearia nostra cypressina
The beams of our houses are cedars and our wainscoting of cypress-trees.
