< Song of Solomon 1 >

1
The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is better then wine.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.
3 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointment powred out: therefore the virgins loue thee.
Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.
4 Drawe me: we will runne after thee: the King hath brought me into his chabers: we will reioyce and be glad in thee: we will remember thy loue more then wine: the righteous do loue thee.
Take me away with you. Let’s 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 blacke, O daughters of Ierusalem, but comely, as the tentes of Kedar, and as the curtaines of Salomon.
I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.
6 Regard ye me not because I am blacke: for the sunne hath looked vpon mee. The sonnes of my mother were angry against mee: they made me the keeper of ye vines: but I kept not mine owne vine.
Do not 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 have not kept my own vineyard.
7 Shewe me, O thou, whome my soule loueth, where thou feedest, where thou liest at noone: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flockes of thy companions?
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?
8 If thou knowe not, O thou the fairest among women, get thee foorth by the steps of the flocke, and feede thy kiddes by the tents of the shepheards.
If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
9 I haue compared thee, O my loue, to the troupe of horses in the charets of Pharaoh.
I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones, and thy necke with chaines.
Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make thee borders of golde with studdes of siluer.
We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.
12 Whiles the King was at his repast, my spikenard gaue the smelll thereof.
While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My welbeloued is as a bundle of myrrhe vnto me: he shall lie betweene my breasts.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
14 My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.
15 My loue, beholde, thou art faire: beholde, thou art faire: thine eyes are like the doues.
Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves.
16 My welbeloued, beholde, thou art faire and pleasant: also our bed is greene:
Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.
17 The beames of our house are cedars, our rafters are of firre.
The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.

< Song of Solomon 1 >