¹ The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. ² “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine. ³ “Your oils have a pleasing fragrance,
Your name is like purified oil;
Therefore the maidens love you. ⁴ “Draw me after you and let us run together!
The king has brought me into his chambers.”
“We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will extol your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.” ⁵ “I am black but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon. ⁶ “Do not stare at me because I am swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard. ⁷ “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,
Where do you pasture your flock,
Where do you make it lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who veils herself
Beside the flocks of your companions?” Solomon, the Lover, Speaks ⁸ “If you yourself do not know,
Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds. ⁹ “To me, my darling, you are like
My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh. ¹⁰ “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of beads.” ¹¹ “We will make for you ornaments of gold
With beads of silver.” ¹² “While the king was at his table,
My perfume gave forth its fragrance. ¹³ “My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts. ¹⁴ “My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
In the vineyards of Engedi.” ¹⁵ “How beautiful you are, my darling,
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves.” ¹⁶ “How handsome you are, my beloved,
And so pleasant!
Indeed, our couch is luxuriant! ¹⁷ “The beams of our houses are cedars,
Our rafters, cypresses.