Love Is Better than Wine

This is Solomon's most beautiful song.

She Speaks:

Kiss me tenderly! Your love is better than wine,

and you smell so sweet. All the young women adore you; the very mention of your name is like spreading perfume. *

Hurry, my king! Let's hurry. Take me to your home.

The Young Women Speak:

We are happy for you! And we praise your love even more than wine.

She Speaks:

Young women of Jerusalem, it is only right that you should adore him.

My skin is dark and beautiful, like a tent in the desert or like Solomon's curtains.

Don't stare at me just because the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me work in the vineyard, and so I neglected my complexion.

My darling, I love you! Where do you feed your sheep and let them rest at noon? Don't let the other shepherds think badly of me. I'm not one of those women who shamelessly follow after shepherds.

He Speaks:

My dearest, if you don't know, just follow the path of the sheep. Then feed your young goats near the shepherds' tents.

Earrings add to your beauty, and you wear a necklace of precious stones.

Let's make you some jewelry of gold, woven with silver.

She Speaks:

My king, while you were on your couch, my aroma was a magic charm.

He Speaks:

My darling, you are lovely, so very lovely— your eyes are those of a dove.

She Speaks:

My love, you are handsome, truly handsome— the fresh green grass will be our wedding bed

in the shade of cedar and cypress trees.

Love Makes Everything Beautiful

She Speaks:

I am merely a rose from the land of Sharon, a lily from the valley.

He Speaks:

My darling, when compared with other young women, you are a lily among thorns.

She Speaks:

And you, my love, are an apple tree among trees of the forest. Your shade brought me pleasure; your fruit was sweet.

You led me to your banquet room and showered me with love.

Refresh and strengthen me with raisins and apples. I am hungry for love!

Winter Is Past

She Speaks:

I hear the voice of the one I love, as he comes leaping over mountains and hills

like a deer or a gazelle. Now he stands outside our wall, looking through the window

and speaking to me.

He Speaks:

My darling, I love you! Let's go away together.

Winter is past, the rain has stopped;

flowers cover the earth, it's time to sing. The cooing of doves is heard in our land.

You are my dove hiding among the rocks on the side of a cliff. Let me see how lovely you are! Let me hear the sound of your melodious voice.