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The Shulammite Bride’s Desire

The [a]Song of (A)Songs, which is Solomon’s.

[b]May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your (B)love is better than wine.
Your (C)oils have a pleasing fragrance,
Your (D)name is like [c]purified oil;
Therefore the [d](E)maidens love you.
Draw me after you and let us run together!
The (F)king has brought me into his chambers.”
[e]We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will [f]extol your (G)love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.”

[g]I am black but (H)lovely,
O (I)daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the (J)tents of (K)Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not look at me because I am [h]swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My (L)mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me (M)caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
Tell me, O you (N)whom my soul loves,
Where do you (O)shepherd your flock,
Where do you make it (P)lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who [i]veils herself
Beside the flocks of your (Q)companions?”

Solomon and His Bride Extol Each Other

[j]If you yourself do not know,
(R)Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the dwellings of the shepherds.

“To a (S)mare of mine among the chariots of Pharaoh
I compare you, O (T)my darling.
10 Your (U)cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of [k](V)beads.”

11 [l]We will make for you ornaments of gold
With beads of silver.”

12 [m]While the king was at his [n]banqueting table,
My [o](W)perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a pouch of (X)myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of (Y)henna blossoms
In the vineyards of (Z)Engedi.”

15 [p](AA)Behold, you are beautiful, my darling,
Behold, you are beautiful!
Your (AB)eyes are like doves.”

16 [q]Behold, you are handsome, (AC)my beloved,
Indeed, so pleasant!
Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!
17 The beams of our houses are (AD)cedars,
Our rafters, [r](AE)cypresses.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 1:1 Or Best of the Songs
  2. Song of Songs 1:2 BRIDE
  3. Song of Songs 1:3 Lit oil which is emptied (from one vessel to another)
  4. Song of Songs 1:3 Or virgins
  5. Song of Songs 1:4 CHORUS
  6. Song of Songs 1:4 Lit make remembrance of
  7. Song of Songs 1:5 BRIDE
  8. Song of Songs 1:6 Or black
  9. Song of Songs 1:7 Some versions wanders
  10. Song of Songs 1:8 BRIDEGROOM
  11. Song of Songs 1:10 Or shells
  12. Song of Songs 1:11 CHORUS
  13. Song of Songs 1:12 BRIDE
  14. Song of Songs 1:12 Or couch
  15. Song of Songs 1:12 Lit nard
  16. Song of Songs 1:15 BRIDEGROOM
  17. Song of Songs 1:16 BRIDE
  18. Song of Songs 1:17 Or junipers

The Song of (A)Songs, which is Solomon's.

The Bride Confesses Her Love

She[a]

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your (B)love is better than wine;
    your (C)anointing oils are fragrant;
your (D)name is oil poured out;
    therefore virgins love you.
(E)Draw me after you; (F)let us run.
    (G)The king has brought me into his chambers.

Others

We will (H)exult and rejoice in you;
    we will extol (I)your love more than wine;
    rightly do they love you.

She

I am very dark, but (J)lovely,
    O (K)daughters of Jerusalem,
like (L)the tents of (M)Kedar,
    like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
    because the sun has looked upon me.
My (N)mother's sons were angry with me;
    they made me (O)keeper of (P)the vineyards,
    but (Q)my own vineyard I have not kept!
Tell me, you (R)whom my soul loves,
    where you (S)pasture your flock,
    where you make it (T)lie down at noon;
for why should I be like one who veils herself
    beside the flocks of your (U)companions?

Solomon and His Bride Delight in Each Other

He

If you do not know,
    O (V)most beautiful among women,
follow in the tracks of the flock,
    and pasture your young goats
    beside the shepherds' tents.

I compare you, (W)my love,
    to (X)a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.
10 (Y)Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
    your neck with strings of jewels.

Others

11 We will make for you[b] ornaments of gold,
    studded with silver.

She

12 While (Z)the king was on his couch,
    my (AA)nard gave forth its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of (AB)myrrh
    that lies between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of (AC)henna blossoms
    in the vineyards of (AD)Engedi.

He

15 (AE)Behold, (AF)you are beautiful, (AG)my love;
    behold, you are beautiful;
    your (AH)eyes are doves.

She

16 Behold, you are beautiful, (AI)my beloved, truly (AJ)delightful.
Our couch is green;
17     the beams of our house are (AK)cedar;
    our rafters are (AL)pine.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 1:2 The translators have added speaker identifications based on the gender and number of the Hebrew words
  2. Song of Solomon 1:11 The Hebrew for you is feminine singular