1 T he Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.

The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s. Beloved

2 “ May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.

Let him 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.

Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins 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.”

Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.

5 “ I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.

I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.

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.

Don’t stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept 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

Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions? Lover

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.

If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

9 “ To me, my darling, you are like My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.

I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.

10 “ Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with strings of beads.”

Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.

11 “ We will make for you ornaments of gold With beads of silver.”

We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver. Beloved

12 “ While the king was at his table, My perfume gave forth its fragrance.

While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.

13 “ My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh Which lies all night between my breasts.

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.

14 “ My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms In the vineyards of Engedi.”

My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi. Lover

15 “ How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.”

Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves. Beloved

16 “ How handsome you are, my beloved, And so pleasant! Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!

Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant. Lover

17 “ The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters, cypresses.

The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.