Song of Solomon 1
1 This is [King] Solomon’s most beautiful song.
Solomon's song of songs.
2 Kiss me [on my lips], because your love [for me] is more delightful than wine.
Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3 The fragrance of the cologne on your [skin] is [very] sweet/pleasing [CHI]. And your reputation is [very] good and spreads, [like] [SIM] the fragrance of the special oil spread on your skin. That is why the [other] young women are attracted to you.
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 Take me quickly; take me to your home. [It is as though] you are my king; take me into your room. We are very happy [DOU] about you; we say that your love [for each other] is better than wine. It is not surprising that the other young women adore you.
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 You women of Jerusalem, I am dark but beautiful; my dark skin is like [SIM] the tents in Kedar, [or] like the beautiful curtains in Solomon’s palace.
I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 [But] do not stare at me because of the sun having caused my skin to become dark; my brothers were angry with me, [so] they forced me to work [out in the sunshine] in the vineyards, so I was not able to take good care of my body/skin [CHI, MET].
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 You whom I [SYN] love, where will you take your flock of sheep today? Where will you allow them to rest at noontime? I want to know because it is not right [RHQ] for me to wander around like a prostitute looking for you among the flocks that belong to your friends.
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 You who are the most beautiful of all the women, if you [search for me and] do not know [where I will take my sheep], follow the tracks/footprints of the sheep. [Then] allow your young goats to (graze/eat grass) near the shepherds’ tents.
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 You [are beautiful], my darling, like the young female horse that pulls the chariot of the king of Egypt.
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
10 Your cheeks are decorated with jewelry, and there are strings of beads/pearls around your neck.
Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make for you [some] gold earrings that are decorated/inlaid with silver.
Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
12 While the king was on his couch, the smell of my perfume spread [around the room].
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
13 The man who loves me is [as delightful as [MET]] a (sachet/small cloth bag) of myrrh between my breasts.
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
14 He is like [MET] a bunch of flowers from the vineyards at En-Gedi.
My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 You whom I love, you are beautiful; you are very beautiful! Your eyes are [as delightful/charming as] doves.
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
16 You who love me, you are very delightful/handsome, you are wonderful! This green grass will be [like] a couch [where we lie down].
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
17 [Branches of] cedar [trees] will shade us; [it is as though branches of] juniper/pine [trees] will be like [MET] a roof [over our heads].
with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
