How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
    O (A)noble daughter!
Your rounded thighs are like (B)jewels,
    the work of (C)a master hand.
Your navel is a rounded bowl
    that never lacks mixed wine.
Your belly is a heap of wheat,
    encircled with (D)lilies.
(E)Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    twins of a gazelle.
Your (F)neck is like an ivory tower.
Your (G)eyes are pools in (H)Heshbon,
    by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like a tower of (I)Lebanon,
    which looks toward (J)Damascus.
Your head crowns you like (K)Carmel,
    and your (L)flowing locks are like purple;
    a king is held captive in the tresses.

(M)How beautiful and (N)pleasant you are,
    O loved one, with all your delights![a]
Your stature is like a palm tree,
    and your breasts are like its clusters.
I say I will climb the palm tree
    and lay hold of its fruit.
Oh may your breasts be like (O)clusters of the vine,
    and the scent of your breath like apples,
and your (P)mouth[b] like the best wine.

She

It goes down smoothly for my beloved,
    gliding over lips and teeth.[c]

10 (Q)I am my beloved's,
    (R)and his desire is for me.

The Bride Gives Her Love

11 (S)Come, my beloved,
    let us go out into the fields
    and lodge in the villages;[d]
12 let us go out early to the vineyards
    (T)and see whether the vines have budded,
whether (U)the grape blossoms have opened
    and the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.
13 (V)The mandrakes give forth fragrance,
    and beside our doors are all choice fruits,
(W)new as well as old,
    which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 7:6 Or among delights
  2. Song of Solomon 7:9 Hebrew palate
  3. Song of Solomon 7:9 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew causing the lips of sleepers to speak, or gliding over the lips of those who sleep
  4. Song of Solomon 7:11 Or among the henna plants

How graceful are your sandaled feet,
        willing woman!
The smooth curves of your thighs—like fine jewelry,
        the work of an artist’s hands!
Your navel, cupped like the full moon—
        may it never lack spiced wine!
Your belly is a mound of winnowed wheat
        edged with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
        twins of a gazelle doe;
    your neck, like a tower of ivory;
        your eyes, pools in Heshbon,
            by the gate of that lordly city.[a]
Your profile is like the tower of Lebanon,
        looking out toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel,
        and your hair, braided in royal purple—
            a king is bound by the tresses!
You are so beautiful, so lovely—
        my love, delightful one![b]
Your stately form resembles a date palm,
        and your breasts are like clustered fruit.
I say, “I will climb the palm tree;
        I will hold its fruit!”

May your breasts be now
        like grape clusters,
and the scent of your breath like apples!
        Your palate is like excellent wine . . .

[Woman]

        . . . flowing smoothly for my love,
            gliding through the lips and teeth.[c]
10 I belong to my lover,
        and his longing is only for me.

The ripeness of love

[Woman]

11 Come, my love:
        Let’s go out to the field
        and rest all night among the flowering henna.
12 Let’s set out early for the vineyards.
We will see if the vines have budded
        and the blossoms opened,
    see if the pomegranates have bloomed.
There I’ll give my loving to you.

13 The mandrakes give off their scent,
        and at our doorways is every delicacy—
            fresh or ripened—
        my love, I have kept them hidden for you.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 7:4 Or by the gate of Bath-rabbim
  2. Song of Solomon 7:6 With Syr and Aquila daughter of delights; MT love in delights or love with every charm
  3. Song of Solomon 7:9 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT through the lips of those who sleep; Heb uncertain