Song of Solomon 5
Expanded Bible
The Man Speaks
5 I have entered my garden, my sister [4:9], my bride.
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey.
I have drunk my wine and my milk [C he enjoys physical intimacy with her].
The Friends Speak
Eat, friends, and drink;
yes, ·drink deeply [be intoxicated], lovers.
The Woman Dreams
2 I sleep, but my ·heart [mind] ·is awake [was alert].
·I hear [L The sound of] my lover knocking.
“Open to me, my sister [4:9; C he desires physical intimacy], my darling,
my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one.
My head is ·wet with [L full of] dew,
and my hair with the ·dampness [drizzle] of the night.”
3 I have taken off my ·garment [clothes]
·and don’t want to put it on [L should I get dressed…?] again.
I have washed my feet
·and don’t want to get [L should I get…?] them dirty again.
4 My lover put his hand through the ·opening [L hole],
and I felt ·excited inside [aroused; warmed].
5 I got up to open the door for my lover.
Myrrh was dripping from my hands
and liquid myrrh [4:14] was flowing from my fingers,
onto the handles of the lock.
6 I opened the door for my lover,
but my lover had left and was gone.
When he spoke, ·he took my breath away [L my spirit went out].
I ·looked for [sought] him, but I could not find him;
I called for him, but he did not answer.
7 The ·watchmen [guards; C an ancient equivalent to police; 3:3] found me
·as they patrolled [those who make their rounds in] the city.
They hit me and ·hurt [bruised] me;
the guards ·on the wall took away my veil [L lifted my garments from me].
8 ·Promise me [I adjure you], ·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5],
if you find my lover,
·tell him [L what should you say to him? That] I am weak with love.
The Friends Answer the Woman
9 How is your lover better than other lovers,
most beautiful of women?
How is your lover better than other lovers?
Why do you want us to promise this?
The Woman Answers the Friends
10 My lover is ·healthy [radiant] and ·tan [ruddy],
·the best of [distinguished among] ten thousand men.
11 His head is like ·the finest [pure] gold;
his hair is wavy and black like a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves [1:15]
by ·springs [streams] of water.
They seem to be bathed in ·cream [milk; C referring to the white of the eye]
·and are set like jewels [or sitting by pools].
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices [C his beard is perfumed];
·they smell like mounds of perfume [L growing aromatics].
His lips are like lilies
flowing with myrrh [4:14].
14 His ·hands [or arms] are like gold ·hinges [or bars],
·filled with jewels [L set with Tarshish stones; C a location in Spain; perhaps a black jet stone or golden topaz].
His ·body [or member] is like ·shiny ivory [or an ivory tusk]
·covered with sapphires [ornamented with lapis].
15 His legs are like large marble ·posts [pillars],
standing on ·bases [pedestals] of fine gold.
·He is like a cedar of [L His appearance is like] Lebanon,
·like the finest of the trees [L choice like the cedars].
16 His mouth is sweet [C to kiss],
and ·I desire him very much [he is totally desirable].
Yes, ·daughters [women] of Jerusalem [1:5],
this is my lover
and my ·friend [darling].
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