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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

How beautiful are your sandaled feet, princess![a](A)
The curves of your thighs are like jewelry,
the handiwork of a master.
Your navel is a rounded bowl;
it never lacks mixed wine.
Your waist[b] is a mound of wheat
surrounded by lilies.
Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.(B)
Your neck is like a tower of ivory,(C)
your eyes like pools in Heshbon
by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
looking toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you[c] like Mount Carmel,
the hair of your head like purple cloth—
a king could be held captive(D) in your tresses.
How beautiful you are and how pleasant,(E)
my love, with such delights!
Your stature is like a palm tree;
your breasts are clusters of fruit.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree
and take hold of its fruit.”(F)
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes,
and the fragrance of your breath like apricots.(G)
Your mouth[d] is like fine wine(H)

W flowing smoothly for my love,
gliding past my lips and teeth![e]
10 I belong to my love,
and his desire(I) is for me.(J)

11 Come, my love,
let’s go to the field;
let’s spend the night among the henna blossoms.[f]
12 Let’s go early to the vineyards;
let’s see if the vine has budded,
if the blossom has opened,
if the pomegranates are in bloom.(K)
There I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes(L) give off a fragrance,
and at our doors is every delicacy—
new as well as old.
I have treasured them up for you, my love.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 7:1 Lit daughter of a nobleman or prince
  2. Song of Solomon 7:2 Or belly
  3. Song of Solomon 7:5 Lit head upon you is
  4. Song of Solomon 7:9 Lit palate
  5. Song of Solomon 7:9 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads past lips of sleepers
  6. Song of Solomon 7:11 Or the villages