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Young Women of Jerusalem

13 [a]Return, return to us, O maid of Shulam.
    Come back, come back, that we may see you again.

Young Man

Why do you stare at this young woman of Shulam,
    as she moves so gracefully between two lines of dancers?[b]

[c]How beautiful are your sandaled feet,
    O queenly maiden.
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
    the work of a skilled craftsman.
Your navel is perfectly formed
    like a goblet filled with mixed wine.
Between your thighs lies a mound of wheat
    bordered with lilies.
Your breasts are like two fawns,
    twin fawns of a gazelle.
Your neck is as beautiful as an ivory tower.
Your eyes are like the sparkling pools in Heshbon
    by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is as fine as the tower of Lebanon
    overlooking Damascus.
Your head is as majestic as Mount Carmel,
    and the sheen of your hair radiates royalty.
    The king is held captive by its tresses.
Oh, how beautiful you are!
    How pleasing, my love, how full of delights!

Footnotes

  1. 6:13a Verse 6:13 is numbered 7:1 in Hebrew text.
  2. 6:13b Or as you would at the movements of two armies? or as you would at the dance of Mahanaim? The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  3. 7:1 Verses 7:1-13 are numbered 7:2-14 in Hebrew text.

The Young Women

13 [a]Return, return, Shulammite,
    return, return, so we may look at you!

The Lover

Why should you look at the Shulammite,[b]
    like you watch[c] the dance of the two camps?[d]

[e]How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
noble lady.[f]
The curves of your thighs are like ornaments,
    the work of a skilled artist’s hands.
Your navel is a rounded goblet
    that never lacks mixed wine.
Your abdomen is a bundle of wheat,
    enclosed by lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    twins of a gazelle.
Your neck is like a tower of ivory.
    Your eyes are like the[g] pools in Heshbon,
        beside the gate of Beth-rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
    which faces Damascus.
Your head crowns you[h] like Mount Carmel.
    Your flowing locks[i] are like purple,
        and a king could be captured in the dangling tresses.
How beautiful and lovely you are,
    you are love with its exquisite delights.[j]

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 6:13 This v. is 7:1 in MT
  2. Song of Solomon 6:13 Or look at Shulamit
  3. Song of Solomon 6:13 The Heb. lacks you watch
  4. Song of Solomon 6:13 Or the dance of Mahanaim
  5. Song of Solomon 7:1 This v. is 7:2 in MT
  6. Song of Solomon 7:1 Or prince’s daughter
  7. Song of Solomon 7:4 The Heb. lacks like the
  8. Song of Solomon 7:5 Lit. is on you
  9. Song of Solomon 7:5 Lit. the hair of your head
  10. Song of Solomon 7:6 Or my love with exquisite delights; Lit. Love with exquisite delights