(A)Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you will tell him:
For (B)I am lovesick.”

The Chorus

[a]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
O (C)most beautiful among women?
[b]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
That you make us swear in this way?”

Admiration by the Bride

The Bride

10 “My beloved is dazzling and [c](D)reddish,
(E)Outstanding among ten thousand.
11 His head is like gold, pure gold;
His (F)locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.
12 His (G)eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk,
And perched in their (H)setting.
13 His cheeks are like a (I)bed of balsam,
[d]Banks of herbal spices;
His lips are (J)lilies
(K)Dripping with drops of myrrh.
14 His hands are rods of gold
Set with (L)topaz;
His abdomen is panels of ivory
Covered with [e](M)sapphires.
15 His thighs are pillars of alabaster
Set on pedestals of pure gold;
His appearance is like (N)Lebanon,
Choice as the (O)cedars.
16 His [f](P)mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly (Q)desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
You daughters of Jerusalem.”

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
  2. Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
  3. Song of Solomon 5:10 I.e., of reddish hair or skin
  4. Song of Solomon 5:13 Lit Towers
  5. Song of Solomon 5:14 Lit lapis lazuli
  6. Song of Solomon 5:16 Lit palate

Adjuration Refrain

I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem,[a]
    if you find my beloved, what will you tell him?
Tell him that I am lovesick![b]

Maiden’s Praise of Her Beloved

How is your beloved better than another lover,[c]
    O most beautiful among women?
How is your beloved better than another lover, [d]
    that you adjure us thus?
10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,[e]
    distinguished among[f] ten thousand.
11 His head is gold, refined gold;
    his locks are wavy, black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves beside springs[g] of water,
    bathed in milk, set like mounted jewels.[h][i]
13 His cheeks are like beds of spice, a tower of fragrances;
    his lips are lilies dripping liquid myrrh.
14 His arms are rods[j][k] of gold engraved with[l] jewels;
    his belly[m] is polished ivory covered with sapphires.[n]
15 His legs are columns of alabaster,[o] set on bases of gold;
    his appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.[p]
16 His mouth[q] is sweet,
    and he is altogether desirable.
This is my beloved;
    this is my friend, O young women of Jerusalem.[r]

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 5:8 Literally “O daughters of Jerusalem”
  2. Song of Solomon 5:8 Literally “sick with love”
  3. Song of Solomon 5:9 Literally “What is your beloved more than another beloved …?”
  4. Song of Solomon 5:9 Literally “What is your beloved more than another beloved …?”
  5. Song of Solomon 5:10 Literally “red”
  6. Song of Solomon 5:10 Literally “more than”
  7. Song of Solomon 5:12 Or “streams”
  8. Song of Solomon 5:12 Literally “dwelling in a setting”
  9. Song of Solomon 5:12 Or “seated at a suitable mounting”
  10. Song of Solomon 5:14 Literally “cylinders”
  11. Song of Solomon 5:14 Or “rings”
  12. Song of Solomon 5:14 Literally “filled with”
  13. Song of Solomon 5:14 Or “body”
  14. Song of Solomon 5:14 Or “works of ivory set with sapphire”
  15. Song of Solomon 5:15 Or “marble”
  16. Song of Solomon 5:15 Literally “the cedars”
  17. Song of Solomon 5:16 Or “his palate”
  18. Song of Solomon 5:16 Literally “O daughters of Jerusalem”