Song of Solomon 1
1 This is [King] Solomon’s most beautiful song.
The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Kiss me [on my lips], because your love [for me] is more delightful than wine.
Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy caresses are more pleasant 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.
To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, [like] precious oil poured forth is thy name [famous afar]: therefore do maidens love thee.
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.
Oh draw me, after thee will we run: the king hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will recall thy caresses, more [pleasant] than wine; without deceit [all] love thee.—
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.
Black am I, yet comely, O daughters 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].
Look not so at me, because I am somewhat black, because the sun hath looked fiercely at me: my mother's children were angry with me; they appointed me to be keeper of the vineyards; but my vineyard, which is my own, have I not kept.—
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.
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest? where lettest thou thy flock rest at noon? for why should I appear like a veiled mourner by the flocks of thy 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 thou knowest this not, O thou fairest of women, go but forth in the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids around the shepherds' dwellings.—
9 You [are beautiful], my darling, like the young female horse that pulls the chariot of the king of Egypt.
Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I compare thee, my beloved.
10 Your cheeks are decorated with jewelry, and there are strings of beads/pearls around your neck.
Comely are thy cheeks between strings [of pearls], thy neck with rows [of jewels].
11 We will make for you [some] gold earrings that are decorated/inlaid with silver.
Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs of silver.—
12 While the king was on his couch, the smell of my perfume spread [around the room].
While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its [pleasant] smell.
13 The man who loves me is [as delightful as [MET]] a (sachet/small cloth bag) of myrrh between my breasts.
A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that resteth on my bosom.
14 He is like [MET] a bunch of flowers from the vineyards at En-Gedi.
A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the vineyards of 'En-gedi.—
15 You whom I love, you are beautiful; you are very beautiful! Your eyes are [as delightful/charming as] doves.
Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved: lo, thou art beautiful: thy eyes are those of a dove.—
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].
Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasant: also our couch is [made in the] green [wood].
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].
The beams of our houses are cedars and our wainscoting of cypress-trees.
