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13 [a] Turn, turn,[b] O Shulammite![c]
    Turn, turn[d] so that we may look upon you!
Why do you look upon the Shulammite
    as at a dance of the two armies?

Solomon’s Praise of His Dancing Maiden

How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
    O royal princess![e]
The curves of your thighs[f] are like jewels,[g]
    the work of the hands of a craftsman.
Your navel is a round wine-mixing bowl[h]
    that does not lack mixed[i] wine!
Your belly is a heap of wheat
    encircled with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    twins of a gazelle.
Your neck is like a tower of ivory;
    your eyes are pools in Heshbon at the gate of Beth Rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
    looking out over Damascus.[j]
Your head crowns you like Carmel;[k][l]
    the flowing locks of your head are like purple tapestry;[m]
        a king is held captive in the tresses!
How beautiful you are and how pleasant,
    O loved one in the delights!

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 6:13 Song of Songs 6:13–7:13 in the English Bible is 7:1–14 in the Hebrew Bible
  2. Song of Solomon 6:13 Or “Return, return …!”
  3. Song of Solomon 6:13 Or “O perfect one,” “O peaceful one,” “O bride.” Many interpreters take this moniker as suggesting the maiden was from the village of Shulem (alternately called Shunem)
  4. Song of Solomon 6:13 Or “Return, return …!”
  5. Song of Solomon 7:1 Or “O daughter of leader”
  6. Song of Solomon 7:1 Literally “thigh”
  7. Song of Solomon 7:1 Literally “ornaments”
  8. Song of Solomon 7:2 Literally “a bowl of the roundness”
  9. Song of Solomon 7:2 Or “blended”
  10. Song of Solomon 7:4 Literally “looking out over the face of Damascus”
  11. Song of Solomon 7:5 Literally “Your head is on you like the Carmel”
  12. Song of Solomon 7:5 Because of its height and fertility, Mount Carmel is often associated with royalty
  13. Song of Solomon 7:5 Literally “the purple”

Friends

13 Return, return, Shulammite!
    Return, return, that we may gaze at you.

Lover

Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite,
    as at the dance of Mahanaim?

How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince’s daughter!

    Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
    the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
Your body is like a round goblet,
    no mixed wine is wanting.
Your waist is like a heap of wheat,
    set about with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    that are twins of a roe.
Your neck is like an ivory tower.
    Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim.
    Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
Your head on you is like Carmel.
    The hair of your head like purple.
    The king is held captive in its tresses.
How beautiful and how pleasant you are,
    love, for delights!