Song of Solomon 1
1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
Solomon's song of songs.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.
Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3 Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.
I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation—it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore you!
4 Draw 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. They love thee uprightly.
Take me by the hand—let's run! (The king has brought me to his bedroom.) Let's be happy together and find pleasure in your love. Your love is far better than wine! Women are right to adore you so!
5 I am black, but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.
I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look 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 keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Don't look down on me because I'm black, because the sun has burned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, so I couldn't look after my own vineyard.
7 Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest it to rest at noon; For why should I be as one veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?
My love, please tell me where you're taking your flock. Where will you rest them at noon? For why should I have to wear a veil while looking for you among the flocks of your companions?
8 If thou know not, thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' booths.
If you really don't know, you who are more beautiful than any other woman, then follow the tracks of my flock, and let your goats graze near the shepherd's tents.
9 I compare thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
10 Thy cheeks are comely with bead-rows, Thy neck with ornamental chains.
Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make thee bead-rows of gold With studs of silver.
Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
12 While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of Engedi.
My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are doves.
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
17 The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters are cypresses.
with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
