Canticum Canticorum 1
The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 osculetur me osculo oris sui quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 fraglantia unguentis optimis oleum effusum nomen tuum ideo adulescentulae dilexerunt te
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins 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
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 remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 nigra sum sed formonsa filiae Hierusalem sicut tabernacula Cedar sicut pelles Salomonis
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as 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 upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard 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 thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside 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 not, O thou fairest among women, go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
9 equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis adsimilavi te amica mea
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 pulchrae sunt genae tuae sicut turturis collum tuum sicut monilia
Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11 murenulas aureas faciemus tibi vermiculatas argento
We will make for thee borders of gold 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 fragrance.
13 fasciculus murrae dilectus meus mihi inter ubera mea commorabitur
A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved to me; he shall lie all night between my breasts.
14 botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi
My beloved is to me as a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 ecce tu pulchra es amica mea ecce tu pulchra oculi tui columbarum
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.
16 ecce tu pulcher es dilecte mi et decorus lectulus noster floridus
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17 tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina laquearia nostra cypressina
The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
