Song of Solomon 1

1The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

1This is the greatest of all songs, written by Solomon.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your expressions of love are more refreshing than wine.

3Thine oils have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is as oil poured forth; Therefore do the virgins love thee.

3The smell of your perfume is wonderful; your very name is like expensive oil poured out. No wonder the young women love you!

4Draw me; we will run after thee: The king hath brought me into his chambers; We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will make mention of thy love more than of wine: Rightly do they love thee.

4Take me away with you; let us run! The king has brought me into his private rooms. We will celebrate and be happy because of you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.

5I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.

5I am dark-skinned but beautiful, you women of Jerusalem—dark like the tents of Kedar, yet lovely like the curtains of Solomon’s palace.

6Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, Because the sun hath scorched me. My mother’s sons were incensed against me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; But mine own vineyard have I not kept.

6Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has tanned my skin. My brothers were angry with me and made me work in the vineyards, so I could not care for my own appearance.

7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou makest it to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that is veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?

7Tell me, you whom I love with all my heart, where do you take your sheep to graze? Where do you let them rest at noon? Why should I have to wander around like a veiled woman among the flocks of your friends?

8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

8If you do not know, most beautiful of women, just follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.

9I have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.

9My darling, I compare you to a mare among the stallions of Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Thy cheeks are comely with plaits of hair, Thy neck with strings of jewels.

10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments; your neck is beautiful with strings of jewels.

11We will make thee plaits of gold With studs of silver.

11We will make gold jewelry for you, decorated with silver beads.

12While the king sat at his table, My spikenard sent forth its fragrance.

12While the king was reclining at his table, the scent of my perfume filled the air. My perfume gave off its fragrance.

13My beloved is unto me as a bundle of myrrh, That lieth betwixt my breasts.

13My true love is like a pouch of myrrh to me, resting all night between my breasts.

14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of En-gedi.

14My beloved is like a cluster of henna blossoms from the gardens of En-gedi.

15Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves.

15How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are as soft as doves.

16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green.

16How handsome you are, my love! You are so pleasing! Our bed is among the lush green grass.

17The beams of our house are cedars, And our rafters are firs.

17The beams of our house are made of cedar, and the ceiling panels are made of fir.