Song of Solomon 5:8-16
New American Standard Bible
8 (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
9 “[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.”
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
- Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
- Song of Solomon 5:10 I.e., of reddish hair or skin
- Song of Solomon 5:13 Lit Towers
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Lit lapis lazuli
- Song of Solomon 5:16 Lit palate
Song of Solomon 5:8-16
Revised Standard Version
8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
if you find my beloved,
that you tell him
I am sick with love.
Colloquy of Friends and Bride
9 What is your beloved more than another beloved,
O fairest among women?
What is your beloved more than another beloved,
that you thus adjure us?
10 My beloved is all radiant and ruddy,
distinguished among ten thousand.
11 His head is the finest gold;
his locks are wavy,
black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves
beside springs of water,
bathed in milk,
fitly set.[a]
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices,
yielding fragrance.
His lips are lilies,
distilling liquid myrrh.
14 His arms are rounded gold,
set with jewels.
His body is ivory work,[b]
encrusted with sapphires.[c]
15 His legs are alabaster columns,
set upon bases of gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
choice as the cedars.
16 His speech is most sweet,
and he is altogether desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 5:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Song of Solomon 5:14 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Heb lapis lazuli
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.