< Wimbo wa Sulemani 1 >
1 Wimbo ulio Bora, ambao ni wa Sulemani. Wanamke mdogo akizungumza na mpenzi wake
This is [King] Solomon’s most beautiful song.
2 O, laiti ungenibusu na mabasu ya mdomo wako, kwa kuwa upendo wako ni bora kuliko mvinyo.
Kiss me [on my lips], because your love [for me] is more delightful than wine.
3 Mafuta yako ya upako yana manukato mazuri; jina lako ni kama marashi yaeleayo, hivyo wanawake wadogo 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 Nichukuwe kwako, na tutakimbia. Mwanamke akizungumza mwenyewe Mfalme amenipeleka vyumbani mwake. Mwanamke akizungumza na mpenzi wake nina furuha; nina furahi kuhusu wewe; acha ni shereheke upendo wako; ni bora kuliko mvinyo. Ni halisi kwa wanawake wengine kupenda. Mwanamke akizungumza na wanawake wengine.
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 mzuri, enyi mabinti wa wanaume wa Yerusalemu - mweusi kama hema za Kedari, muzuri kama mapazia ya Sulemani.
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 Usinishangae kwasababu ni mweusi, kwasababu jua limeniunguza. Wana wa mama yangu walikuwa na hasira juu yangu; walinifanya mtunzi wa mashamba ya mizabibu, lakini mshamba langu la mizabibu sijatunza. Wanamke akizungumza na mpenzi wake.
[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 ninaye kupenda, wapi unalisha mifugo yako? Wapi unapumzisha mifugo yako mchana? Kwa nini niwe kama mtu anaye akangaika miongoni mwa mifugo ya marafiki zako? Mpenzi wake anamjibu
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 haujui, uliye mzuri miongoni mwa wanawake, fuata nyayo za mifugo yangu, na ulishe watoto wako wa mbuzi 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 Nina kulinganisha, mpenzi wangu, na farasi mzuri wakike miongoni mwa farasi wa magari ya Farao.
You [are beautiful], my darling, like the young female horse that pulls the chariot of the king of Egypt.
10 Mashavu yako ni mazuri na mapambo, shingo yako na mikufu ya madini.
Your cheeks are decorated with jewelry, and there are strings of beads/pearls around your neck.
11 Nitakufanyia mapambo ya dhahabu yaliochanganywa na fedha. Mwanamke akiongea mwenyewe.
We will make for you [some] gold earrings that are decorated/inlaid with silver.
12 Wakati mfalme akiwa amelala kitandani mwake, marashi yangu yakasambaza arufu.
While the king was on his couch, the smell of my perfume spread [around the room].
13 Mpenzi wangu ni kwangu kama mkebe wa marashi unao lala usiku katika ya maziwa yangu.
The man who loves me is [as delightful as [MET]] a (sachet/small cloth bag) of myrrh between my breasts.
14 Mpenzi wangu ni kwangu kama kifurushi cha maua ya hena katika mashamba ya mizabibu ya Eni Gedi. Mpenzi wake anazungumza naye
He is like [MET] a bunch of flowers from the vineyards at En-Gedi.
15 Ona, wewe ni mzuri, mpenzi wangu; ona, wewe ni mzuri; macho yako ni kama ya hua. Mwanamke anazungumza na mpenzi wake.
You whom I love, you are beautiful; you are very beautiful! Your eyes are [as delightful/charming as] doves.
16 Ona, wewe ni mtanashati, mpenzi wangu, jinsi mtanashati.
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 za matawi ya mierezi, na dari letu ni la matawi ya 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].