Ingoma Yezingoma 1
1 Ingoma yezingoma engekaSolomoni.
Solomon's song of songs.
2 Kangange ngokwanga komlomo wakhe; ngoba uthando lwakho lungcono kulewayini.
Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3 Ngenxa yephunga lamagcobo akho amnandi, ibizo lakho linjengamagcobo athululiweyo; ngakho-ke izintombi ziyakuthanda.
I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation—it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore you!
4 Ngidonsa, sizagijima emva kwakho; inkosi ingingenise emakamelweni ayo; sizajabula sithokoze kuwe, sikhumbule uthando lwakho okwedlula iwayini; abaqondileyo bayakuthanda.
Take me by the hand—let's run! (The king has brought me to his bedroom.) Let's be happy together and find pleasure in your love. Your love is far better than wine! Women are right to adore you so!
5 Ngimnyama, kodwa ngimuhle, madodakazi eJerusalema, njengamathente eKedari, njengamakhetheni kaSolomoni.
I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Lingangibukeli ngoba ngimnyama, ngoba ilanga lingitshisile. Abantwana bakamama bangizondela, bangenza umlindikazi wezivini; isivini sami esingesami kangisilindanga.
Don't look down on me because I'm black, because the sun has burned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, so I couldn't look after my own vineyard.
7 Ngitshela, wena umphefumulo wami okuthandayo, ukuthi welusela ngaphi, uphumuza ngaphi umhlambi emini; ngoba kungani ngizakuba njengozulayo ngasemihlanjini yabangane bakho?
My love, please tell me where you're taking your flock. Where will you rest them at noon? For why should I have to wear a veil while looking for you among the flocks of your companions?
8 Uba ungazi, wena omuhle kakhulu phakathi kwabesifazana, phuma wena ngezinyathelo zomhlambi, welusele amazinyane akho phansi kwamadumba abelusi.
If you really don't know, you who are more beautiful than any other woman, then follow the tracks of my flock, and let your goats graze near the shepherd's tents.
9 Ngikufananise lebhizakazi ezinqoleni zikaFaro, mthandwa wami.
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
10 Izihlathi zakho zinhle phakathi kwemiceciso, intamo yakho ngezigqizo.
Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 Sizakwenzela imiceciso yegolide lamaqhubu esiliva.
Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
12 Inkosi isesetafuleni layo ledili inadi yami yakhupha iphunga layo.
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
13 Isithandwa sami kimi siyisamba semure; sizalala phakathi kwamabele ami ebusuku.
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
14 Isithandwa sami kimi silihlukuzo lesihlahla sehena ezivinini zeEngedi.
My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Khangela, umuhle, mthandwa wami, khangela, umuhle, amehlo akho angawamajuba.
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
16 Khangela, umuhle, sithandwa sami, isibili uyathokozisa. Lombheda wethu uluhlaza.
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
17 Imijabo yezindlu zethu yimisedari, intungo zethu ngezefiri.
with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
