Wimbo wa Sulemani 1
1 Wimbo ulio bora wa Solomoni.
This is [King] Solomon’s most beautiful song.
2 Unibusu kwa busu la kinywa chako, kwa maana upendo wako unafurahisha kuliko divai.
Kiss me [on my lips], because your love [for me] is more delightful than wine.
3 Manukato yako yananukia vizuri, jina lako ni kama manukato yaliyomiminwa. Ndiyo sababu wanawali wanakupenda!
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 Nichukue twende nawe, na tufanye haraka! Mfalme na anilete ndani ya vyumba vyake. Marafiki Tunakushangilia na kukufurahia, tutasifu upendo wako zaidi kuliko divai. Mpendwa Tazama jinsi ilivyo bora wakupende!
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 Mimi ni mweusi, lakini napendeza, enyi binti za Yerusalemu, mweusi kama mahema ya Kedari, kama mapazia ya hema la Solomoni.
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 Usinikazie macho kwa sababu mimi ni mweusi, kwa sababu nimefanywa mweusi na jua. Wana wa mama yangu walinikasirikia na kunifanya niwe mtunza mashamba ya mizabibu. Shamba langu mwenyewe la mizabibu nimeliacha.
[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 Niambie, wewe ambaye ninakupenda, unalisha wapi kundi lako la kondoo na ni wapi unapowapumzisha kondoo wako adhuhuri. Kwa nini niwe kama mwanamke aliyefunikwa shela karibu na makundi ya rafiki zako?
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 Kama hujui, ewe mwanamke mzuri kuliko wote, fuata nyayo za kondoo, na kulisha wana-mbuzi wako karibu na hema za wachungaji.
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 Mpenzi wangu, ninakufananisha na farasi jike aliyefungwa katika mojawapo ya magari ya vita ya Farao.
You [are beautiful], my darling, like the young female horse that pulls the chariot of the king of Egypt.
10 Mashavu yako yanapendeza yakiwa na vipuli, shingo yako ikiwa na mikufu ya vito.
Your cheeks are decorated with jewelry, and there are strings of beads/pearls around your neck.
11 Tutakufanyia vipuli vya dhahabu, vyenye kupambwa kwa fedha.
We will make for you [some] gold earrings that are decorated/inlaid with silver.
12 Wakati mfalme alipokuwa mezani pake, manukato yangu yalisambaza harufu yake nzuri.
While the king was on his couch, the smell of my perfume spread [around the room].
13 Mpenzi wangu kwangu mimi ni kifuko cha manemane kati ya matiti yangu.
The man who loves me is [as delightful as [MET]] a (sachet/small cloth bag) of myrrh between my breasts.
14 Mpenzi wangu kwangu mimi ni kama kishada cha maua ya mhina kutoka mashamba ya mizabibu ya En-Gedi.
He is like [MET] a bunch of flowers from the vineyards at En-Gedi.
15 Tazama jinsi ulivyo mzuri, mpenzi wangu! Tazama jinsi ulivyo mzuri! Macho yako ni kama ya hua.
You whom I love, you are beautiful; you are very beautiful! Your eyes are [as delightful/charming as] doves.
16 Tazama jinsi ulivyo mzuri, mpenzi wangu! Ee, tazama jinsi unavyopendeza! Na kitanda chetu ni cha majani mazuri.
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 Nguzo za nyumba yetu ni mierezi, na mapao yetu ni miberoshi.
[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].
