Ingoma Yezingoma 1
1 Ingoma yezingoma engekaSolomoni.
This is [King] Solomon’s most beautiful song.
2 Kangange ngokwanga komlomo wakhe; ngoba uthando lwakho lungcono kulewayini.
Kiss me [on my lips], because your love [for me] is more delightful than wine.
3 Ngenxa yephunga lamagcobo akho amnandi, ibizo lakho linjengamagcobo athululiweyo; ngakho-ke izintombi ziyakuthanda.
The fragrance of the cologne on your [skin] is [very] sweet/pleasing [CHI]. And your reputation is [very] good and spreads, [like] [SIM] the fragrance of the special oil spread on your skin. That is why the [other] young women are attracted to you.
4 Ngidonsa, sizagijima emva kwakho; inkosi ingingenise emakamelweni ayo; sizajabula sithokoze kuwe, sikhumbule uthando lwakho okwedlula iwayini; abaqondileyo bayakuthanda.
Take me quickly; take me to your home. [It is as though] you are my king; take me into your room. We are very happy [DOU] about you; we say that your love [for each other] is better than wine. It is not surprising that the other young women adore you.
5 Ngimnyama, kodwa ngimuhle, madodakazi eJerusalema, njengamathente eKedari, njengamakhetheni kaSolomoni.
You women of Jerusalem, I am dark but beautiful; my dark skin is like [SIM] the tents in Kedar, [or] like the beautiful curtains in Solomon’s palace.
6 Lingangibukeli ngoba ngimnyama, ngoba ilanga lingitshisile. Abantwana bakamama bangizondela, bangenza umlindikazi wezivini; isivini sami esingesami kangisilindanga.
[But] do not stare at me because of the sun having caused my skin to become dark; my brothers were angry with me, [so] they forced me to work [out in the sunshine] in the vineyards, so I was not able to take good care of my body/skin [CHI, MET].
7 Ngitshela, wena umphefumulo wami okuthandayo, ukuthi welusela ngaphi, uphumuza ngaphi umhlambi emini; ngoba kungani ngizakuba njengozulayo ngasemihlanjini yabangane bakho?
You whom I [SYN] love, where will you take your flock of sheep today? Where will you allow them to rest at noontime? I want to know because it is not right [RHQ] for me to wander around like a prostitute looking for you among the flocks that belong to your friends.
8 Uba ungazi, wena omuhle kakhulu phakathi kwabesifazana, phuma wena ngezinyathelo zomhlambi, welusele amazinyane akho phansi kwamadumba abelusi.
You who are the most beautiful of all the women, if you [search for me and] do not know [where I will take my sheep], follow the tracks/footprints of the sheep. [Then] allow your young goats to (graze/eat grass) near the shepherds’ tents.
9 Ngikufananise lebhizakazi ezinqoleni zikaFaro, mthandwa wami.
You [are beautiful], my darling, like the young female horse that pulls the chariot of the king of Egypt.
10 Izihlathi zakho zinhle phakathi kwemiceciso, intamo yakho ngezigqizo.
Your cheeks are decorated with jewelry, and there are strings of beads/pearls around your neck.
11 Sizakwenzela imiceciso yegolide lamaqhubu esiliva.
We will make for you [some] gold earrings that are decorated/inlaid with silver.
12 Inkosi isesetafuleni layo ledili inadi yami yakhupha iphunga layo.
While the king was on his couch, the smell of my perfume spread [around the room].
13 Isithandwa sami kimi siyisamba semure; sizalala phakathi kwamabele ami ebusuku.
The man who loves me is [as delightful as [MET]] a (sachet/small cloth bag) of myrrh between my breasts.
14 Isithandwa sami kimi silihlukuzo lesihlahla sehena ezivinini zeEngedi.
He is like [MET] a bunch of flowers from the vineyards at En-Gedi.
15 Khangela, umuhle, mthandwa wami, khangela, umuhle, amehlo akho angawamajuba.
You whom I love, you are beautiful; you are very beautiful! Your eyes are [as delightful/charming as] doves.
16 Khangela, umuhle, sithandwa sami, isibili uyathokozisa. Lombheda wethu uluhlaza.
You who love me, you are very delightful/handsome, you are wonderful! This green grass will be [like] a couch [where we lie down].
17 Imijabo yezindlu zethu yimisedari, intungo zethu ngezefiri.
[Branches of] cedar [trees] will shade us; [it is as though branches of] juniper/pine [trees] will be like [MET] a roof [over our heads].
