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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 Songs, which is Solomon’s.(A)

Colloquy of the Young Woman and Friends

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine;(B)
    your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is perfume poured out;
    therefore the maidens love you.(C)
Draw me after you; let us make haste.
    The king has brought me into his chambers.
We will exult and rejoice in you;
    we will extol your love more than wine;
    rightly do they love you.(D)

I am black and beautiful,
    O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
    like the curtains of Solomon.(E)
Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
    because the sun has gazed on me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
    they made me keeper of the vineyards,
    but my own vineyard I have not kept!(F)
Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
    where you pasture your flock,
    where you make it lie down at noon,
for why should I be like one who is veiled
    beside the flocks of your companions?(G)

If you do not know,
    O fairest among women,
follow the tracks of the flock
    and pasture your kids
    beside the shepherds’ tents.(H)

Colloquy of the Young Man, Friends, and the Young Woman

I compare you, my love,
    to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.(I)
10 Your cheeks are comely with ornaments,
    your neck with strings of jewels.(J)
11 We will make you ornaments of gold,
    studded with silver.

12 While the king was on his couch,
    my nard gave forth its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh
    that lies between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
    in the vineyards of En-gedi.(K)

15 Ah, you are beautiful, my love;
    ah, you are beautiful;
    your eyes are doves.(L)
16 Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved,
    truly lovely.
Our couch is green;
17     the beams of our house are cedar;
    our rafters[a] are pine.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 1.17 Meaning of Heb uncertain