Song of Solomon 1
1 The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
Bride: May he kiss me with the kiss of his mouth. Groom to Bride: So much better than wine are your breasts,
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
fragranced with the finest perfumes. Bride to Groom: Your name is oil that has been poured out; therefore, the maidens have loved 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: the upright love thee.
Draw me forward. Chorus to Bride: We will run after you in the odor of your perfumes. Bride to Chorus: The king has led me into his storerooms. Chorus to Bride: We will exult and rejoice in you, remembering your breasts above wine. Groom to Bride: The righteous love you.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Bride to Chorus: O daughters of Jerusalem: I am black, but shapely, like the tabernacles of Kedar, like the tents 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 the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard have I not kept.
Do not be concerned that I am dark, for the sun has changed my color. The sons of my mother have fought against me. They have made me the keeper of the vineyards. My own vineyard I have not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
Bride to Groom: Reveal to me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture, where you recline at midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of your companions.
8 If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
Groom to Bride: If you yourself do not know, O most beautiful among women, then go out and follow after the steps of the flocks, and pasture your young goats beside the tabernacles of the shepherds.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
O my love, I have compared you to my company of horsemen against the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
Your cheeks are beautiful, like those of a turtledove. Your neck is like a bejeweled collar.
11 We will make for thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
Chorus to Bride: We will fashion for you chains of gold, accented with reddened silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
Bride to Chorus: While the king was taking his rest, my aromatic ointment sent forth its odor.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved to me; he shall lie all night between my breasts.
My beloved is a bundle of myrrh to me. He shall abide between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me as a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
My beloved is a cluster of Cyprus grapes to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.
Groom to Bride: Behold, you are beautiful, O my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are those of a dove.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
Bride to Groom: Behold, you are handsome, O my beloved, and graceful. Our bed is flourishing.
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
Groom to Bride: The timbers of our houses are of cedar; our ceilings are of cypress.
