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

Expressions of Praise

How graceful are your feet in sandals,
    O queenly maiden!
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
    the work of a master hand.(A)
Your navel is a rounded bowl;
    may it never lack mixed wine.
Your belly is a heap of wheat,
    encircled with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    twins of a gazelle.(B)
Your neck is like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are pools in Heshbon,
    by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon,
    overlooking Damascus.(C)
Your head crowns you like Carmel,
    and your flowing locks are like purple;
    a king is held captive in the tresses.(D)

How fair and pleasant you are,
    O loved one, delectable maiden![a](E)
You are stately[b] as a palm tree,
    and your breasts are like its clusters.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree
    and lay hold of its branches.”
O may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
    and the scent of your breath like apples,(F)
and your kisses[c] like the best wine
    that goes down[d] smoothly,
    gliding over lips and teeth.[e]

10 I am my beloved’s,
    and his desire is for me.(G)
11 Come, my beloved,
    let us go forth into the fields
    and lodge in the villages;
12 let us go out early to the vineyards;
    let us see whether the vines have budded,
whether the grape blossoms have opened
    and the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.(H)
13 The mandrakes give forth fragrance,
    and over our doors are all choice fruits,
new as well as old,
    which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 7.6 Syr: Heb in delights
  2. 7.7 Heb This your stature is
  3. 7.9 Heb palate
  4. 7.9 Heb to my lover
  5. 7.9 Gk Syr Vg: Heb lips of sleepers