For Solomon. The most sublime song of all.

Her (to him): Kiss me with the sweet kisses of your lips, for your love delights me more than wine.

Take me away with you; let’s run away together! (to the young women) The king has brought me into his bedroom. Young Women of Jerusalem (to him): We will shout for joy and celebrate over you. We will make it known that your love is better than the finest of wines. Her (to him): Everyone loves you, and there is no reason why they shouldn’t.

(to him) Tell me, my dearest love, where are your sheep grazing today? Where are you resting with your flock at midday? I want to come to you. Why must I go looking for you like the veiled women wandering among the flocks of your friends?

My love is close to my heart, like a sachet of myrrh tucked between my breasts.

My love is like a fragrant bouquet of henna blossoms from the vineyards of Engedi.

Her: You, my love, are so handsome! A pleasure to behold! Our bed is a lush, green field,

Her: My love is like an apple tree in a wooded forest; he is a ripe tree among a grove of saplings, those young men. I sat beneath his ample shade, filled with such joy. I tasted the sweetness of his fruit and longed for more.

He placed me at his banquet table, for everyone to see that his banner over me declares his love.

(to those around) Sustain me with sweet raisins. Refresh my energy with apples Because I am lovesick for him.

(to the young women) You of Jerusalem heed my warning. By the gazelles and deer of the field, I charge you not to excite your love until it is ready. Don’t stir a fire in your heart too soon, until it is ready to be satisfied.

I hear his voice! The voice of my love! Here he comes, Leaping over the mountains, bounding among the hills.

My love is like a gazelle, sure-footed and swift as a young stag. Look, there he is! Standing behind my wall, watching through the windows, peering through the lattice.

My love responded and said to me, Him: Arise, my dearest, my beauty, and come away with me.

Now, my dove, don’t be shy. Don’t hide from me in the clefts of the rock or nest like a bird in secret among the cliffs. Show me your lovely form. Let me hear your beautiful voice, For it sounds so sweet, and your face is so lovely.

Her: My love is mine, and I am his. He grazes among my lilies.

As the day breathes its morning breeze and shadows turn and flee, Turn to me, my love, like a gazelle; come to me like a young stag on rugged mountains.

Her: Restless night after night in my bed, I longed and looked for my soul’s true love; I searched for him, but I could not find him.

I will get up now and search the city, wander up and down streets and plazas; I will look for my soul’s true love. I searched for him, but I could not find him.

The watchmen found me as they kept watch on the silent city. “Have you seen my soul’s true love?” I asked.

Not long after I left them, I found him—I found my soul’s true love. I pulled him to me and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house, to the very room where she conceived me.

(to the young women of Jerusalem) Heed my warning: By the gazelles and deer of the field, I charge you not to excite your love until it is ready. Don’t stir a fire in your heart too soon, until it is ready to be satisfied.

He had its posts fashioned from silver, its back made of gold, its seat covered with royal purple, its interior decorated with love by the young women of Jerusalem.

Him (to her): You, my love, are beautiful. So beautiful! Your eyes are like doves nestled behind your veil. Your hair moves as gracefully as a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Mount Gilead.

You are so beautiful, my love, without blemish.