1The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.1.2 thy…: Heb. thy loves 3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.1.4 the upright…: or, they love thee uprightly 5I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 6Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?1.7 as one…: or, as one that is veiled
8¶ If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents. 9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots. 10Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. 11We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 13A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.1.14 camphire: or, cypress 15Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.1.15 my love: or, my companion 16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.1.17 rafters: or, galleries
1This is the greatest song Solomon ever wrote.
A Shulammite woman says to King Solomon
2“I long for your lips to kiss me!
Your love makes me happier than wine does.
3The lotion you have on pleases me.
Your name is like perfume that is poured out.
No wonder the young women love you!
4Take me away with you. Let us hurry!
King Solomon, bring me into your palace.”
The other women say
“King Solomon, you fill us with joy. You make us happy.
We praise your love more than we praise wine.”
The woman says to the king
“It is right for them to love you!
5“Women of Jerusalem,
my skin is dark but lovely.
It is dark like the tents in Kedar.
It’s like the curtains of Solomon’s tent.
6Don’t stare at me because I’m dark.
The sun has made my skin look like this.
My brothers were angry with me.
They made me take care of the vineyards.
I haven’t even taken care of my own vineyard.
7“King Solomon, I love you.
So tell me where you take care of your flock.
Tell me where you rest your sheep at noon.
Why should I have to act like a prostitute
near the flocks of your friends?”
The other women say
8“You are the most beautiful woman of all.
Don’t you know where to find the king?
Follow the tracks the sheep make.
Take care of your young goats
near the tents of the shepherds.”
King Solomon says to the Shulammite woman
9“You are my love.
You are like a mare among Pharaoh’s chariot horses.
10Your earrings make your cheeks even more beautiful.
Your strings of jewels make your neck even more lovely.
11We will make gold earrings for you.
We’ll decorate them with silver.”
The woman says
12“The king was at his table.
My perfume gave off a sweet smell.
13The one who loves me is like a small bag of myrrh
resting between my breasts.
14He is like henna flowers
from the vineyards of En Gedi.”
The king says
15“You are so beautiful, my love!
So beautiful!
Your eyes are like doves.”
The woman says
16“You are so handsome, my love!
So charming!
The green field is our bed.”
The king says
17“Cedar trees above us are the beams of our house.
Fir trees overhead are its rafters.”
