Song of Solomon 5:8-16
Lexham English Bible
Adjuration Refrain
8 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
9 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]
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 5:8 Literally “O daughters of Jerusalem”
- Song of Solomon 5:8 Literally “sick with love”
- Song of Solomon 5:9 Literally “What is your beloved more than another beloved …?”
- Song of Solomon 5:9 Literally “What is your beloved more than another beloved …?”
- Song of Solomon 5:10 Literally “red”
- Song of Solomon 5:10 Literally “more than”
- Song of Solomon 5:12 Or “streams”
- Song of Solomon 5:12 Literally “dwelling in a setting”
- Song of Solomon 5:12 Or “seated at a suitable mounting”
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Literally “cylinders”
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Or “rings”
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Literally “filled with”
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Or “body”
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Or “works of ivory set with sapphire”
- Song of Solomon 5:15 Or “marble”
- Song of Solomon 5:15 Literally “the cedars”
- Song of Solomon 5:16 Or “his palate”
- Song of Solomon 5:16 Literally “O daughters of Jerusalem”
Song of Solomon 5:8-16
International Standard Version
8 I charge you, young women of Jerusalem,
“If you find my beloved, what are you to tell him?
Tell him[a] that I’m weak with love.”
The Young Women
9 What is so special about your beloved,[b]
most beautiful of women?
What is so special about your beloved,
that you charge us like this?
The Loved One
10 My beloved is dazzling,
with a dark and healthy complexion,
outstanding among ten thousand.
11 His head is pure gold,
his hair is wavy, black like a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves
by streams of water,
bathed in milk,
mounted like jewels.
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices,
like towers of perfume.
His lips are lilies,
dripping with liquid myrrh.
14 His hands are rods of gold,
set with beryl.
His stomach is carved ivory,
inlaid with sapphires.[c]
15 His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
choice like its cedars.
16 His mouth[d] is sweetness,
and all of him is desirable.
This is my beloved, this is my friend,
young women of Jerusalem!
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 5:8 The Heb. lacks Tell him
- Song of Solomon 5:9 Or How is your beloved better than other beloveds
- Song of Solomon 5:14 Or lapis lazuli
- Song of Solomon 5:16 Lit. palate
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