Song of Solomon 1:7-8
Lexham English Bible
Dialogue between Shepherdess and Shepherd
7 Tell me, you whom my heart[a] loves,
where do you pasture your flock,
where do your sheep lie down at the noon?
For why should I be like[b] one who is veiled[c]
beside the flocks of your companions?
8 If you do not know, O fairest among women,
follow the tracks[d] of the flock,
and pasture your little lambs[e] beside the tents of the shepherds.
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 1:7 Literally “soul”
- Song of Solomon 1:7 Literally “For to what will I be like”
- Song of Solomon 1:7 The reading of the MT (“like one who is veiled”) is supported by the LXX. However, several ancient versions (Syriac Peshitta, Latin Vulgate, Symmachus) reflect an alternate Hebrew textual tradition in which two letters are transposed, resulting in the reading “like one who wanders about.” This makes good sense contextually, since the maiden does not know where her beloved would be at noon
- Song of Solomon 1:8 Literally “in the tracks”
- Song of Solomon 1:8 Or “your kids”
Song of Solomon 1:7-8
Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 Tell me, you, the one I love:(A)
Where do you pasture your sheep?(B)
Where do you let them rest at noon?(C)
Why should I be like one who veils herself[a][b]
beside the flocks of your companions?(D)
8 M[c] If you do not know,
most beautiful of women,(E)
follow[d] the tracks of the flock,
and pasture your young goats
near the shepherds’ tents.
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 1:7 Or who wanders
- Song of Solomon 1:7 To express shame or grief, or to conceal identity as a prostitute would; Gn 38:14-15
- Song of Solomon 1:8 Some understand the young women to be the speakers in this verse.
- Song of Solomon 1:8 Lit go out for yourself into
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