Admiration by the Groom

[a]How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
[b](A)Prince’s daughter!
The curves of your hips are like jewels,
The work of the hands of an artist.
Your navel is like a round goblet
That never lacks mixed wine;
Your belly is like a heap of wheat,
[c]Surrounded with lilies.
Your (B)two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle.
Your (C)neck is like a tower of ivory,
Your eyes like the pools in (D)Heshbon
By the gate of Bath-rabbim;
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
Which looks toward Damascus.
Your head [d]crowns you like (E)Carmel,
And the flowing hair of your head is like purple threads;
The king is captivated by your tresses.
How (F)beautiful and how delightful you are,
[e]My love, with all your delights!
[f]Your stature is like a palm tree,
And your breasts are like its clusters.
I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree,
I will grasp its fruit stalks.’
Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
And the fragrance of your [g]breath like (G)apples,
And your [h](H)mouth like the best wine!”

The Bride

“It (I)goes down smoothly for my beloved,
Flowing gently through the lips of those who are asleep.

The Union of Love

10 (J)I am my beloved’s,
And his (K)desire is for me.
11 Come, my beloved, let’s go out to the [i]country,
Let’s spend the night in the villages.
12 Let’s rise early and go to the vineyards;
Let’s (L)see whether the vine has grown
And its buds have opened,
And whether the pomegranates have bloomed.
There I will give you my love.
13 The (M)mandrakes have given forth fragrance;
And over our doors are all (N)delicious fruits,
New as well as old,
Which I have saved for you, my beloved.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 7:1 Ch 7:2 in Heb
  2. Song of Solomon 7:1 Or Nobleman’s
  3. Song of Solomon 7:2 Lit Fenced around
  4. Song of Solomon 7:5 Lit is upon
  5. Song of Solomon 7:6 Or With love among your charms
  6. Song of Solomon 7:7 Lit This stature of yours
  7. Song of Solomon 7:8 Lit nose
  8. Song of Solomon 7:9 Lit palate
  9. Song of Solomon 7:11 Lit field

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