| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. | 1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. |
| 2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; | 2Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your caresses are more delightful than wine. |
| 3your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. | 3The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating; your name is perfume poured out. No wonder young women adore you. |
| 4Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. Others We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you. | 4Take me with you--let's hurry. Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers. Young Women We will rejoice and be glad in you; we will celebrate your caresses more than wine. Woman It is only right that they adore you. |
| 5I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. | 5Daughters of Jerusalem, I am dark like the tents of Kedar, yet lovely like the curtains of Solomon. |
| 6Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept! | 6Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has gazed on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me take care of the vineyards. I have not taken care of my own vineyard. |
| 7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions? | 7Tell me, you whom I love: Where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you let them rest at noon? Why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions? |
| 8If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents. | 8If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats near the shepherds' tents. |
| 9I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots. | 9I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots. |
| 10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels. | 10Your cheeks are beautiful with jewelry, your neck with its necklace. |
| 11We will make for you ornaments of gold, studded with silver. | 11We will make gold jewelry for you, accented with silver. |
| 12While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance. | 12While the king is on his couch, my perfume releases its fragrance. |
| 13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts. | 13The one I love is a sachet of myrrh to me, spending the night between my breasts. |
| 14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi. | 14The one I love is a cluster of henna blossoms to me, in the vineyards of En-gedi. |
| 15Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves. | 15How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Your eyes are doves. |
| 16Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green; | 16How handsome you are, my love. How delightful! Our bed is verdant; |
| 17the beams of our house are cedar; our rafters are pine. | 17the beams of our house are cedars, and our rafters are cypresses. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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