Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

1 The praises of the Church. 7 She is without blemish in his sight. 9 The love of Christ towards her.

Behold, thou art [a]fair, my love: behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are like the doves: among thy locks (A)thine hair is like the [b]flock of goats, which look down from the mountain of Gilead.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep in good order, which go up from the washing: which every one brings out twins, and none is barren among them.

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy talk is comely: thy temples are within thy locks as a piece of a pomegranate.

Thy neck is as the tower of David built for defense: a thousand shields hang therein, and all the targets of the strong men.

Thy two [c]breasts are as two young roes that are twins, feeding among the lilies.

Until the day break, and the shadows fly away, I will go into the mountain of myrrh, and to the mountain of incense.

Thou art all fair my love, and there is no spot in thee.

[d]Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, even with me from Lebanon, and look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir, and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, and from the mountains of the leopards.

My [e]sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded mine heart: thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine [f]eyes, and with a chain of thy neck.

10 My sister, my Spouse, how fair is thy love? how much better is thy love than wine? and the savor of thine ointments than all spices?

11 Thy [g]lips, my Spouse, drop as honeycombs: honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the savor of thy garment is as the savor of Lebanon.

12 My sister, my spouse is as a garden enclosed, as a spring shut up, and a fountain sealed up.

13 Thy plants are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits, as camphire, spikenard,

14 Even spikenard, and saffron: calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of incense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.

15 [h]O fountain of the gardens, O well of living waters, and the springs of Lebanon.

16 Arise, O [i]North, and come, O South, and blow on my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out: let my well-beloved come to his garden, and eat his pleasant fruit.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 4:1 Because Christ delighteth in his Church, he commendeth all that is in her.
  2. Song of Solomon 4:1 He hath respect to the multitude of the faithful, which are many in number.
  3. Song of Solomon 4:5 Wherein are knowledge and zeal two precious jewels.
  4. Song of Solomon 4:8 Christ promiseth his Church to call his faithful from all the corners of the world.
  5. Song of Solomon 4:9 Christ calleth his Church sister, in respect that he had taken the flesh of man.
  6. Song of Solomon 4:9 In that he made his Church beautiful and rich, he loved his gifts in her.
  7. Song of Solomon 4:11 Because of thy confession and thanksgiving.
  8. Song of Solomon 4:15 The Church confesseth that all her glory and beauty cometh of Christ, who is the true fountain of all grace.
  9. Song of Solomon 4:16 She desireth Christ to comfort her and to pour the graces of his Spirit upon her, which Spirit is meant by the North and South wind.

The Bridegroom Praises the Bride

The Beloved

Behold, (A)you are fair, my love!
Behold, you are fair!
You have dove’s eyes behind your veil.
Your hair is like a (B)flock of goats,
Going down from Mount Gilead.
(C)Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep
Which have come up from the washing,
Every one of which bears twins,
And none is [a]barren among them.
Your lips are like a strand of scarlet,
And your mouth is lovely.
(D)Your temples behind your veil
Are like a piece of pomegranate.
(E)Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built (F)for an armory,
On which hang a thousand [b]bucklers,
All shields of mighty men.
(G)Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle,
Which feed among the lilies.

(H)Until the day breaks
And the shadows flee away,
I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh
And to the hill of frankincense.

(I)You are all fair, my love,
And there is no spot in you.
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse,
With me from Lebanon.
Look from the top of Amana,
From the top of Senir (J)and Hermon,
From the lions’ dens,
From the mountains of the leopards.

You have ravished my heart,
My sister, my spouse;
You have ravished my heart
With one look of your eyes,
With one link of your necklace.
10 How fair is your love,
My sister, my spouse!
(K)How much better than wine is your love,
And the [c]scent of your perfumes
Than all spices!
11 Your lips, O my spouse,
Drip as the honeycomb;
(L)Honey and milk are under your tongue;
And the fragrance of your garments
Is (M)like the fragrance of Lebanon.

12 A garden [d]enclosed
Is my sister, my spouse,
A spring shut up,
A fountain sealed.
13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates
With pleasant fruits,
Fragrant henna with spikenard,
14 Spikenard and saffron,
Calamus and cinnamon,
With all trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes,
With all the chief spices—
15 A fountain of gardens,
A well of (N)living waters,
And streams from Lebanon.

The Shulamite

16 Awake, O north wind,
And come, O south!
Blow upon my garden,
That its spices may flow out.
(O)Let my beloved come to his garden
And eat its pleasant (P)fruits.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 4:2 bereaved
  2. Song of Solomon 4:4 Small shields
  3. Song of Solomon 4:10 fragrance
  4. Song of Solomon 4:12 locked or barred

Solomon Admires His Bride's Beauty

He

Behold, (A)you are beautiful, my love,
    behold, you are beautiful!
(B)Your eyes are doves
    (C)behind your veil.
(D)Your hair is like a flock of goats
    leaping down (E)the slopes of Gilead.
Your (F)teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes
    that have come up from the washing,
all of which bear twins,
    and not one among them has lost its young.
Your lips are like (G)a scarlet thread,
    and your mouth is (H)lovely.
Your (I)cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate
    (J)behind your veil.
Your (K)neck is like the tower of David,
    built in (L)rows of stone;[a]
on it (M)hang a thousand shields,
    all of (N)them shields of warriors.
Your (O)two breasts are like two (P)fawns,
    twins of a gazelle,
    that (Q)graze among the lilies.
(R)Until the day breathes
    and the shadows flee,
I will go away to the mountain of (S)myrrh
    and the hill of (T)frankincense.
(U)You are altogether beautiful, my love;
    there is no (V)flaw in you.
(W)Come with me from (X)Lebanon, my (Y)bride;
    come with me from (Z)Lebanon.
Depart[b] from the peak of Amana,
    from the peak of (AA)Senir and (AB)Hermon,
from the dens of lions,
    from the mountains of leopards.

You have captivated my heart, my (AC)sister, my bride;
    you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
    with one (AD)jewel of your necklace.
10 How beautiful is your love, my (AE)sister, my bride!
    How much (AF)better is your love than wine,
    and (AG)the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
11 Your (AH)lips drip nectar, my bride;
    (AI)honey and milk are under your tongue;
    the fragrance of your garments is (AJ)like the fragrance of (AK)Lebanon.
12 A garden locked is my (AL)sister, my bride,
    a spring locked, (AM)a fountain (AN)sealed.
13 Your shoots are (AO)an orchard of pomegranates
    with all (AP)choicest fruits,
    (AQ)henna with (AR)nard,
14 nard and saffron, (AS)calamus and (AT)cinnamon,
    with all trees of (AU)frankincense,
(AV)myrrh and (AW)aloes,
    with all (AX)choice spices—
15 a garden fountain, a well of (AY)living water,
    and flowing streams from (AZ)Lebanon.

16 Awake, O north wind,
    and come, O south wind!
Blow upon my (BA)garden,
    let its spices flow.

Together in the Garden of Love

She

(BB)Let my beloved come to his (BC)garden,
    and eat its (BD)choicest fruits.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 4:4 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Song of Solomon 4:8 Or Look