The Shulammite Bride’s Desire

1The [†]Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.

2“[†]May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is better than wine.

3Your oils have a pleasing fragrance,

Your name is like [†]purified oil;

Therefore the [†]maidens love you.

4Draw me after you and let us run together!

The king has brought me into his chambers.”

“[†]We will rejoice in you and be glad;

We will [†]extol your love more than wine.

Rightly do they love you.”

5“[†]I am black but lovely,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

Like the tents of Kedar,

Like the curtains of Solomon.

6Do not look at me because I am [†]swarthy,

For the sun has burned me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

They made me caretaker of the vineyards,

But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

7Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,

Where do you shepherd your flock,

Where do you make it lie down at noon?

For why should I be like one who [†]veils herself

Beside the flocks of your companions?”

Solomon and His Bride Extol Each Other

8“[†]If you yourself do not know,

Most beautiful among women,

Go forth on the trail of the flock

And pasture your young goats

By the dwellings of the shepherds.

9“To a mare of mine among the chariots of Pharaoh

I compare you, O my darling.

10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,

Your neck with strings of [†]beads.”

11“[†]We will make for you ornaments of gold

With beads of silver.”

12“[†]While the king was at his [†]banqueting table,

My [†]perfume gave forth its fragrance.

13My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh

Which lies all night between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

In the vineyards of Engedi.”

15“[†]Behold, you are beautiful, my darling,

Behold, you are beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves.”

16“[†]Behold, you are handsome, my beloved,

Indeed, so pleasant!

Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!

17The beams of our houses are cedars,

Our rafters, [†]cypresses.