Solomon’s Love for a Shulamite Girl
1The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
The Banquet
The [a]Shulamite
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For [b]your love is better than wine.
3Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
4Draw me away!
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will run after [c]you.
The Shulamite
The king has brought me into his chambers.
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will be glad and rejoice in [d]you.
We will remember your love more than wine.
The Shulamite
Rightly do they love you.
5I am dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
6Do not look upon me, because I am dark,
Because the sun has [e]tanned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me the keeper of the vineyards,
But my own vineyard I have not kept.
(To Her Beloved)
7Tell me, O you whom I love,
Where you feed your flock,
Where you make it rest at noon.
For why should I be as one who [f]veils herself
By the flocks of your companions?
The Beloved
8If you do not know, O fairest among women,
[g]Follow in the footsteps of the flock,
And feed your little goats
Beside the shepherds’ tents.
9I have compared you, my love,
To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with chains of gold.
The Daughters of Jerusalem
11We will make [h]you ornaments of gold
With studs of silver.
The Shulamite
12While the king is at his table,
My [i]spikenard sends forth its fragrance.
13A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me,
That lies all night between my breasts.
14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blooms
In the vineyards of En Gedi.
The Beloved
15Behold, you are fair, [j]my love!
Behold, you are fair!
You have dove’s eyes.
The Shulamite
16Behold, you are handsome, my beloved!
Yes, pleasant!
Also our [k]bed is green.
17The beams of our houses are cedar,
And our rafters of fir.
