Song of Solomon 1

1Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy breasts are better than wine,

1The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

2Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured out: therefore young maidens have loved thee.

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

3Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. The king hath brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, remembering thy breasts more than wine: the rightous love thee.

3Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.

4I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

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 remember thy love more than wine. They love thee uprightly.

5Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun hath altered my colour: the sons of my mother have fought against me, they have made me the keeper in the vineyards: my vineyard I have not kept.

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

6Shew me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of thy companions.

6Look 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 keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7If thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the tents of the shepherds.

7Tell me, 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 veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?

8To my company of horsemen, in Pharao's chariots, have I likened thee, O my love.

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

9Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove's, thy neck as jewels.

9I compare thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.

10We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver.

10Thy cheeks are comely with bead-rows, Thy neck with ornamental chains.

11While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the odour thereof.

11We will make thee bead-rows of gold With studs of silver.

12A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.

12While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.

13A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.

13A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.

14Behold thou are fair, O my love, behold thou are fair, thy eyes are as those of doves.

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

15Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is flourishing.

15Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are doves.

16The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.

16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.

17(not in this translation)

17The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters are cypresses.