Bible in 90 Days
There Is a Time for Everything
3 There is a ·time [season] for everything,
and ·everything [every activity] ·on earth [L under heaven] has its ·special season [time].
2 There is a time to be born
and a time to die.
There is a time to plant
and a time to ·pull up plants [uproot what has been planted].
3 There is a time to kill
and a time to heal.
There is a time to ·destroy [tear down]
and a time to build.
4 There is a time to cry
and a time to laugh.
There is a time to ·be sad [mourn]
and a time to dance.
5 There is a time to throw away stones
and a time to gather them.
There is a time to ·hug [embrace]
and a time ·not to hug [to refrain from embracing].
6 There is a time to ·look for something [seek]
and a time to ·stop looking for it [L give up as lost; or lose].
There is a time to keep things
and a time to throw things away.
7 There is a time to tear apart
and a time to sew together.
There is a time to be silent
and a time to speak.
8 There is a time to love
and a time to hate.
There is a time for war
and a time for peace.
God Controls His World
9 ·Do [L What do] people really ·gain anything [profit] from their ·work [toil; 1:3]? 10 I saw the ·hard work [task] God has given people to ·do [keep them occupied; 1:13]. 11 God has ·given them a desire to know the future [L placed eternity/an awareness of time/or ignorance in their hearts]. He ·does everything just right and on time [L makes everything appropriate/beautiful in its time], but people can never ·completely understand what he is doing [L discover/find the work that God does from beginning to end; C humans cannot discern the “right time”]. 12 So I ·realize [know] that ·the best thing [L there is nothing better] for them is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their ·work [toil], which are gifts from God [2:24–26; 3:22; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7–10; C the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world]. 14 I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people ·respect [or be afraid of; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13] him.
15 What happens now has happened in the past,
and what will happen in the future has happened before.
God makes the same things happen again and again.
Unfairness on Earth
16 I also saw this ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]:
·Where there should have been justice [L The place of judgment], there was evil;
·where there should have been right [L the place of righteousness; C the courtroom], there was evil.
17 I said ·to myself [L in my heart],
·God has planned [L There is] a time for every ·thing [activity] and every action,
so he will judge both ·good people and bad [the righteous and the evil/wicked].
18 I ·decided [L said in my heart concerning the human race] that God ·leaves it the way it is to test people and [L tests them] to show them they are just like animals. 19 The ·same thing happens to animals and to people [L fate of people and the fate of animals are the same/one fate]; they both have the same breath, so they both die. People ·are no better off than [have no advantage over] the animals, because everything is useless [1:2]. 20 ·Both end up the same way [All go to the same place]; both came from dust and both will go back to dust. 21 Who ·can be sure [knows] that the human spirit goes up above and that the spirit of an animal goes down into the ground? 22 So I saw that ·the best thing people can do is [L there is nothing better for people than] to ·enjoy [rejoice in] their work, because that is ·all they have [L their reward; 2:24–26; 3:12–14; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7–10; C the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world]. ·No one can help another person [L Who can bring them to…?] see what will happen in the future.
Is It Better to Be Dead?
4 Again I saw all the people who were ·mistreated [oppressed] ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3].
I saw ·their tears [L the tears of the oppressed]
and that they had no one to comfort them.
·Cruel people had [Oppressors have] all the power,
and there was no one to comfort those they hurt.
2 I ·decided that the dead
are better off than the living [L praised the dead who were already dead more than the living who are still alive].
3 But those who have never ·been born [existed; L been]
are better off still;
they have not seen the evil
that is done ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3].
Why Work So Hard?
4 I ·realized [saw; observed] the reason people ·work hard [toil] and try to succeed: They are jealous of ·each other [L their neighbors]. This, too, is useless [1:2], like chasing the wind.
5 ·Some say it is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing [L Fools fold their hands],
·because you will starve to death [L and consume their own flesh; Prov. 6:9–11; 10:4; 24:30–34].
6 ·Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content
with what little you have [L Better one handful with rest].
·Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more [L …than two handfuls with hard work/toil; Prov. 15:15; 16:8; 17:1],
and that is like chasing the wind.
7 ·Again I [L I turned and] saw something ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3] that was useless [1:2]:
8 ·I saw a man who had no family [L There was one, but not a second],
no son or brother.
·He always worked hard [L There was no end to all his hard work/toil]
but ·was never satisfied with what he had [L his eye was never satisfied with his work].
He ·never asked [or asked] himself, “For whom am I ·working so hard [toiling]?
Why ·don’t I let myself enjoy life [L do I deprive myself of good]?”
This also is ·very sad [or an evil task/occupation] and useless [1:2].
Friends and Family Give Strength
9 Two people are better than one,
because they get ·more done by working together [L a good return for their hard work/toil].
10 If one falls down,
the other can help ·him [L his colleague] up.
But it is ·bad [a pity] for the person who is alone and falls,
because no one is there to help.
11 If two lie down together, they will be warm,
but a person alone will not be warm.
12 ·An enemy [L Someone] might ·defeat [overpower] one person,
but two people together can ·defend themselves [L stand up against them];
·a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break [T a three-stranded cord does not quickly snap; C having a friend is good, having more friends is better].
Fame and Power Are Useless
13 A poor but wise ·boy [youth] is better than a foolish but old king who doesn’t listen to advice [Prov. 11:14; 15:22; 20:18; 24:6]. 14 The ·boy [youth] became king. He had been born poor in the kingdom and had even gone to prison before becoming king. 15 I ·watched [saw; observed] all the people who ·lived on earth [L walked under the sun; 1:3] follow ·him and make him their king [or the next youth who replaced the first youth/L him]. 16 ·Many followed him at first [L There was no end to all the people, to all those whom he led], but later, they did not like him, either. ·So fame and power are [L This is] useless [1:2], like chasing the wind.
Be Careful About Making Promises
5 ·Be careful [Watch your step/L feet] when you go to worship at the ·Temple [L house of God]. It is better to listen than to offer ·foolish sacrifices [or the sacrifice of fools] without even knowing you are doing wrong.
2 ·Think before you speak [L Do not be quick with your mouth],
and ·be careful about what you say [L do not let your heart rush to utter a word] to God.
God is in heaven,
and you are on the earth,
so ·say only a few words to God [L let your words be few].
3 Dreams come from too much ·worrying [or work],
and too many words come from foolish people.
4 If you make a ·promise [vow] to God, don’t ·be slow to keep [delay to fulfill] it. ·God is not happy [L For there is no pleasure] with fools, so ·give God what you promised [L fulfill what you have vowed]. 5 It is better not to ·promise anything than to promise something and not do it [make a vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it; Deut. 23:21; Prov. 20:25; Matt. 23:16–22]. 6 Don’t let your ·words [L mouth] cause ·you [L your flesh] to sin, and don’t say to the ·priest at the Temple [L messenger], “·I didn’t mean what I promised [L It was a mistake].” ·If you do, God will [L Why should God…?] become angry with your words and will destroy ·everything you have worked for [L the work of your hands]. 7 Many useless [1:2] ·promises [or words] are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should ·respect [or be afraid of; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13] God.
Officers Cheat Each Other
8 In some places you will see poor people ·mistreated [oppressed]. Don’t be surprised when they are ·not treated fairly [deprived/L robbed of justice] or ·given their rights [righteousness]. One ·officer [official; L higher-up] ·is cheated by [or watches out for] a higher ·officer [official] ·who in turn is cheated by even higher officers [L and there are officials/higher-ups over them]. 9 The ·wealth of the country [profit of the land] is ·divided up among them [L taken by] all. Even the king ·makes sure he gets his share of the profits [L benefits from the field].
Wealth Cannot Buy Happiness
10 Whoever loves money
will never have enough money;
Whoever loves ·wealth [riches]
will not be satisfied with ·it [gain].
This is also useless [1:2].
11 The more ·wealth [prosperity] people have,
the more friends they have to ·help spend [consume] it.
So what do people really ·gain [profit]?
They ·gain [profit] nothing except to ·look at their riches [admire it].
12 ·Those who work hard sleep in peace [L Sweet is the sleep of the laborer];
it is not important if they eat little or much.
But ·rich people worry about their wealth
and cannot [L the abundance of the wealthy does not let them] sleep.
13 ·I have seen real misery here [L There is a sickening evil I have seen] ·on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]:
·Money [Wealth] ·saved is a curse to [is hoarded to the harm of] its owners.
14 They lose ·it all [L that wealth] in a ·bad deal [evil/bad situation]
and have nothing to give to their children.
15 People come ·into this world [L from the womb of their mother] ·with nothing [naked],
and when they ·die [return] they leave with nothing.
In spite of all their hard ·work [toil],
they leave just as they came.
16 This, too, is ·real misery [a sickening evil]:
They leave just as they came.
So what do they ·gain [profit] from chasing the wind?
17 ·All they get are days full of sadness and sorrow [L They eat all their days in darkness],
and they end up sick, defeated, and ·angry [frustrated].
Enjoy Your Life’s Work
18 I have ·seen [observed] what is ·best [good] for people ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]. ·They [L It is fitting/appropriate that they] should eat and drink and enjoy their ·work [toil], because ·the life God has given them on earth is short [L that is their reward during the few days God has given to this person under the sun; 1:3]. 19 God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and ·property [possessions] he gives them, as well as the ability to accept their ·state in life [reward] and ·enjoy [take pleasure in] their work. 20 They do not ·worry about how short life is [L remember much about the days of their life], because God keeps them busy with ·what they love to do [L the pleasure of their heart; 2:24–26; 3:12–14, 22; 8:15; 9:7–10; C the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world].
6 I have ·seen [observed] something else ·wrong [evil] ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3] that ·causes serious problems for [is frequent among] people. 2 God gives great wealth, ·riches [possessions], and honor to some people; they ·have everything [L lack nothing] they want. But God does not let them ·enjoy such things [L eat of it]; a stranger ·enjoys them instead [L eats of it]. This is useless [1:2] and ·very wrong [a sickening evil]. 3 A man might have a hundred children and live ·a long time [L many years], but what good is it if he ·can’t enjoy the good God gives him [L is not satisfied with the good things he has] or have a proper burial? I say a ·baby born dead [stillborn] is better off than he is. 4 A ·baby born dead [stillborn] is useless [1:2]. ·It returns to darkness without even a name [L Its name is shrouded/obscured in darkness]. 5 That baby never saw the sun and never knew ·anything [or the sun], but it finds more rest than that man. 6 Even if he lives ·two thousand years [L a thousand years two times over], he doesn’t ·enjoy the good God gives him [L experience good times]. ·Everyone is going [L Do not all go…?] to the same place [C the grave].
7 ·People work just to feed themselves [L All toil of humans is for their mouths],
but ·they never seem to get enough to eat [L their appetite is never filled; Prov. 16:26].
8 In this way ·a wise person
is no better off than [L what advantage/profit is there for a wise person over…?] a fool.
·Then, too, it does a poor person little good
to know how to get along in life [What do the poor have by knowing how to act in front of the living?].
9 ·It is better to see what you have
than to want more [L The sight of the eyes is better than wandering desire].
·Wanting more [L This also] is useless [1:2]—
like chasing the wind.
Who Can Understand God’s Plan?
10 Whatever happens was ·planned long ago [L already called by name].
Everyone knows what people are like.
No one can argue with ·God,
who [L one who] is stronger than anyone.
11 ·The more you say,
the more useless it is [There are many words that increase meaninglessness; 1:2].
What good does it do?
12 People have only a few useless [1:2] days of life on the earth; their ·short life [L few days] passes like a shadow [1 Chr. 29:15; Ps. 144:4; Job 8:9; 14:12]. Who knows what is ·best [good] for them while they live? Who can tell them what ·the future will bring [L will happen after them]?
Some Benefits of Serious Thinking
7 It is better to have ·respect [a good reputation/L name] than ·good [fine] ·perfume [oil].
The day of death is better than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to a ·funeral [L house of mourning]
than to a ·party [L drinking house].
·We all must die [L It is everyone’s end],
and everyone living should ·think about this [L take it to heart].
3 ·Sorrow [or Anger] is better than laughter,
and ·sadness has a good influence on you [in a troubled face the heart is made well].
4 ·A wise person thinks about death [The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning],
but ·a fool thinks only about having a good time [L the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure].
5 It is better to ·be criticized by a [hear the rebuke of a] wise person
than to ·be praised by a fool [L hear the song of fools].
6 The laughter of fools
is like the crackling of thorns ·in a cooking fire [L under the pot].
Both are useless [1:2].
7 Even wise people are fools
if they let ·money change their thinking [L a bribe distort their understanding].
8 It is better to ·finish [end] something
than to ·start [begin] it.
It is better to be patient
than to be proud.
9 Don’t ·become angry quickly [L be quick to anger in your spirit],
because ·getting angry is foolish [L anger resides in the bosom of fools].
10 Don’t ·ask [L say], “Why ·was life better in the ‘good old days’ [L were the former days better than these]?”
It is not ·wise [L from wisdom] to ask ·such questions [L this].
11 Wisdom is better when it comes with ·money [L an inheritance].
·They both help those who are alive [L It is an advantage to those who see the sun].
12 ·Wisdom is like money:
they both help [L The protection/shade of wisdom is in/or like the protection/shade of money].
But wisdom is better,
because it can ·save [give life to] whoever has it.
13 Look at ·what God has done [L the work/deeds of God]:
·No one [L Who can…?] straighten what he has bent [1:15].
14 When life is good, enjoy it.
But when life is hard, remember:
God gives good times and hard times,
and no one knows what tomorrow will bring.
It Is Impossible to Be Truly Good
15 In my useless [1:2] ·life [L days] I have seen both of these:
I have seen ·good [righteous] people die ·in spite of their goodness [L in their righteousness]
and ·evil [wicked] people live a long time in spite of their evil.
16 Don’t be ·too [overly] ·right [righteous; good],
and don’t ·be too [or pretend to be] wise.
Why ·destroy [ruin] yourself?
17 Don’t be ·too [overly] wicked,
and don’t be foolish.
Why die ·before [L when it is not] your time?
18 It is good to grab the one and not ·let go of [L relax your hand from] the other;
those who ·respect [or are afraid of; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13] God will hold them both.
19 Wisdom makes a person stronger
than ten ·leaders [officials; rulers] in a city [9:13–16; Prov. 24:5–6].
20 Surely there is not a ·good [righteous] person on earth
who always does good and never sins [1 Kin. 8:46; Ps. 143:2; Prov. 20:9; Rom. 3:10–18].
21 Don’t ·listen [L give your heart] to everything people say,
or you might hear your servant insulting you.
22 ·You know [L Your heart knows] that many times
you have insulted others.
23 I ·used wisdom to test [L tested with/or by wisdom] all these things.
I said, “I ·want to [or will] be wise,”
but it was ·too hard for [L far from] me.
24 ·I cannot understand why things are as they are [L That which is, is far off].
It is ·too hard for anyone to understand [L deep, deep, who can find it?].
25 ·I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom,
to find some meaning for everything [L I and my heart turned to understand and to explore and to seek wisdom and the sum of things].
I learned that it is foolish to be evil,
and it is crazy to act like a fool.
26 I found that ·some women [or women] are ·worse [L more bitter] than death
and are ·as dangerous as traps [L a trap/snare].
Their ·love is like [L heart is] a net,
and their ·arms hold men like [L hands are] chains.
A man who pleases God will ·be saved from [escape] them,
but ·a sinner [or someone who offends him] will be caught by them.
27 The ·Teacher [or Preacher; L Assembler; 1:1] says, “This is what I ·learned [L found]:
·I added all these things together
to find some meaning for everything [L One to one to find the sum/scheme of things].
28 While I was searching and not finding,
I found one man among a thousand.
But I did not find a woman among all these [C that is a good woman].
29 One thing I have ·learned [L found]:
God made people ·good [virtuous; upright],
but they have ·found all kinds of ways to be bad [L sought out many devices].”
Obey the King
8 ·No one [L Who…?] is like the wise person
who ·can understand what things mean [L knows the interpretation of a matter?].
Wisdom ·brings happiness [L brightens one’s face];
it ·makes sad faces happy [L changes his stern/hard expression].
2 ·Obey [Keep; or I obey/keep] the king’s command, because ·you made a promise [of your oath] to God. 3 ·Don’t be too quick to leave the king [or You should leave his presence]. Don’t ·support something that is wrong [persist in an evil matter], because the king does whatever he ·pleases [wants]. 4 What the king says is ·law [supreme]; no one ·tells him what to do [L says to him, “What are you doing?].
5 Whoever obeys the king’s command ·will be safe [experiences no harm/evil].
A wise ·person does [L heart knows] the right thing at the right time.
6 There is a right time and a right way for everything [3:1–8; Prov. 15:23],
yet people often have many troubles.
7 They do not know what the future holds,
and no one can tell them ·what [or when it] will happen.
8 No one ·can control the wind [L has power over the wind to restrain the wind]
or ·stop his own [L power over the day of] death.
No soldier is ·released [discharged] ·in times of war [during the battle],
and evil does not ·set free [rescue] ·those who do evil [L its owner].
Justice, Rewards, and Punishment
9 I saw all of this as I ·considered [L gave my heart to] all that is done here ·on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]. Sometimes people harm those they control. 10 I saw ·the funerals of evil people [L the wicked buried and departed] who used to go in and out of the holy place [C the Temple]. They were ·honored [praised] in the same towns where they had done evil. This is useless [1:2], too [C it is not fair that the wicked thrive in life and are praised after they die].
11 When ·evil people are not punished [L the sentence for an evil deed is not carried out] right away, ·it makes others want to do evil, too [L the human heart is filled with evildoing]. 12 Though a sinner might do a hundred evil things and ·might live a long time [L their days are lengthened], I know it will be better for those who ·honor God [L fear God because they fear him]. 13 I also know it will not go well for evil people, because they do not ·honor [fear] God. Like a shadow, ·they will not last [L their days will not be lengthened]. 14 Sometimes something useless [1:2] happens on earth. ·Bad things happen to good people [L There are righteous people who are treated as if they did wicked deeds], and ·good things happen to bad people [L wicked people who are treated as if they did righteous deeds]. I say that this is also useless [1:2]. 15 So I ·decided it was more important to enjoy life [commended/praised pleasure]. ·The best that people can do [L There is nothing better] ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3] ·is [or than] to eat, drink, and ·enjoy life [have pleasure], because these joys will help them do the ·hard work [toil] God gives them ·here on earth [L under the sun; 2:24–26; 3:12–14, 22; 5:18–20; 9:7–10; C the little pleasures are distractions from the meaningless world].
We Cannot Understand All God Does
16 I ·tried to understand [L gave my heart to know] all that happens on earth. ·I saw how busy people are, working day and night and hardly ever sleeping [L No one sleeps day or night]. 17 I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can ·understand [comprehend; L find] what God does ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]. No matter how hard people try to ·understand [L find] it, they cannot. Even if wise people say they understand, they cannot; no one can really ·understand [L find] it.
Is Death Fair?
9 I ·thought about [L gave my heart to] all this and ·tried to understand it [L examined all this]. ·I saw that God controls good people and wise people and what they do [L The righteous and the wise and their works are all in the hand of God], but no one knows if ·they will experience love or hate [L love or hate awaits them].
2 ·Good [Righteous] and ·bad [wicked] people ·end up the same [have the same fate]—
those who are good and those who are evil,
those who are clean [C in a ritual sense] and those who are unclean,
those who sacrifice and those who do not.
The same things happen to a good person
as happen to a sinner,
to a person who ·makes promises to God [swears; makes an oath]
and to one who ·does not [L is afraid to swear/make an oath].
3 This is ·something wrong [the evil] that happens ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]: ·What happens to one happens to [L There is one fate for] all. So people’s ·minds [L hearts] are full of ·evil and foolish thoughts [madness] while they live. After that, they join the dead. 4 But anyone ·still alive [joined to the living] has hope; even a live dog [C considered contemptible] is better off than a dead lion [C a noble animal]!
5 The living know they will die,
but the dead know nothing.
Dead people have no more reward,
and ·people forget them [L the memory of them is forgotten].
6 ·After people are dead,
they can no longer love or hate or envy [L Their love, their hate, and their jealousy have already perished].
They will ·never again share [L have no portion]
in what happens ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3].
Enjoy Life While You Can
7 So go eat your food ·and enjoy it [L with gladness];
drink your wine ·and be happy [L with a glad heart],
because ·that is what God wants you to do [L God has already approved your deeds].
8 Put on ·nice [L white; C festive] clothes
and ·make yourself look good [L do not spare oil on your head; Ps. 23:5; 45:7; Prov. 27:9; Is. 61:3].
9 Enjoy life with the wife you love. Enjoy all the useless [1:2] days of this useless [1:2] life God has given you ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3], because it is ·all you have [L your lot/reward/portion in life]. So enjoy the ·work [toil] you do ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]. 10 Whatever ·work you [L your hand finds to] do, do ·your best [L with all your strength], because you are going to ·the grave [L Sheol], where there is no ·working [or action], no ·planning [or thought], no knowledge, and no wisdom [2:24–26; 3:12–14, 22; 5:18–20; 8:15; C such activities and pleasures are distractions from the meaninglessness of life].
Time and Chance
11 I also ·saw [L turned and observed] something else ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3]:
The fastest runner does not always win the race,
the strongest soldier does not always win the battle,
the wisest does not always have food,
the smartest does not always become wealthy,
and the ·talented [intelligent] one does not always receive ·praise [favor].
Time and chance happen to everyone.
12 No one knows ·what will happen next [L his time].
Like a fish caught in a cruel net,
or a bird caught in a trap,
people are trapped ·by evil [or in an evil time]
when it suddenly falls on them.
Wisdom Does Not Always Win
13 I also saw something wise ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3] that impressed me. 14 There was a small town with only a few people in it. A great king ·fought against [invaded] it and ·put his armies all around it [L built great siegeworks against it]. 15 Now there was a poor but wise man in the town who used his wisdom to ·save [rescue] his town. But later on, ·everyone forgot about him [L no one remembered that poor wise man]. 16 I ·still think [L said that] wisdom is better than strength. But ·those people forgot about the poor man’s wisdom [L the wisdom of the poor wise man was despised], and they stopped listening to what he said.
17 The quiet words of a wise person are better
than the shouts of a foolish ruler.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner can destroy much good.
10 Dead flies can make even ·perfume [L a perfumer’s oil] stink.
In the same way, a little foolishness ·can spoil [L outweighs] wisdom and ·honor [glory].
2 The heart of the wise ·leads [goes] to ·right [L the right],
but the heart of a fool ·leads [goes] to ·wrong [L the left].
3 Even in the way fools walk along the road,
they ·show they are not wise [lack sense];
they show everyone how ·stupid [foolish] they are [Prov. 12:23; 13:16].
4 Don’t leave your job
just because your ·boss [ruler; leader] is angry with you.
·Remaining calm [Gentleness] ·solves [appeases] great ·problems [offenses].
5 There is something else ·wrong [evil] that happens ·here on earth [L under the sun; 1:3].
It is the kind of ·mistake [error] rulers make:
6 Fools are ·given [placed in] important positions
while ·gifted [L wealthy] people ·are given [L sit in] lower ones;
7 I have seen servants ride horses
while princes walk like servants on ·foot [L on the ground/earth].
8 Anyone who digs a pit might fall into it [Ps. 7:15; Prov. 26:27];
anyone who ·knocks down [breeches] a wall might be bitten by a snake;
9 anyone who ·moves [quarries] boulders might be ·hurt [injured] by them;
and anyone who ·cuts logs [splits trees] might be ·harmed [endangered] by them.
10 ·A dull ax means harder work [L If the ax is blunt and the edge is not sharp, then he must increase his efforts].
·Being wise will make it easier [L The advantage of wisdom is success].
11 If a snake bites the ·tamer [charmer] before it is ·tamed [charmed],
what good is the ·tamer [charmer]?
12 The words of the wise bring them ·praise [or favor],
but the words of a fool will ·destroy [L swallow] them.
13 A fool begins by saying foolish things
and ends by saying crazy and wicked things.
14 A fool ·talks too much [L multiplies words].
No one knows ·the future [L what will happen],
and ·no one [who…?] can tell what will happen after ·death [L him].
15 ·Work [Toil] wears fools out;
they don’t even know how to get ·home [L to the city].
The Value of Work
16 ·How terrible it is for a [L Woe to you, O] country whose king is ·a child [or immature]
and whose leaders ·eat all [or feast in the] morning [Is. 5:11–12; 21:5].
17 ·How lucky a [L Blessed are you, O] country whose king ·comes from a good family [L is a noble],
whose leaders eat ·only at mealtime [L at the appropriate time]
and for strength, not to get drunk.
18 If someone is lazy, the roof will begin to ·fall [sag].
If he ·doesn’t fix it [L lowers his hands], the house will leak [Prov. 6:6; 26:16].
19 A ·party [feast] makes you ·feel good [laugh],
wine makes you feel ·happy [merry],
and money ·buys anything [L answers everything].
20 Don’t ·make fun of [or curse] the king even in your thoughts,
and don’t ·make fun of [curse] rich people, even in your bedroom.
A little bird might carry your words;
a ·bird might fly and [winged creature might] tell what you said.
Boldly Face the Future
11 ·Invest what you have [L Send/Cast/Throw your bread upon the waters],
because after ·a while you will get a return [L many days you may find it].
2 ·Invest what you have in several different businesses [L Give a portion to seven, even eight],
because you don’t know what ·disasters [evil] might ·happen [L occur in the land].
3 If clouds are full of rain,
they will shower on the earth.
A tree can fall to the north or south,
but it will stay where it falls.
4 Those who ·wait for perfect weather [L watch the wind]
will never ·plant seeds [sow];
those who look at every cloud
will never harvest crops.
5 You don’t know ·where the wind will blow [L the way of the wind],
and you don’t know how ·a baby grows inside its mother [L the bones/or body are/is formed in its mother’s womb].
In the same way, you don’t know ·what God is doing [the work of God],
or ·how he created everything [or who does everything].
6 Plant early in the morning,
and ·work until [L do not let your hand rest at] evening,
because you don’t know if this or that will succeed.
They might both do well.
Serve God While You Are Young
7 ·Sunshine [L Light] is sweet;
it is good ·to see the light of day [L for the eyes to see the sun].
8 People ought to enjoy every day of their lives,
·no matter how long they live [L if they live many years].
But they should also remember this:
·You will be dead a long time [L There will be many dark days].
Everything that happens then is useless [1:2].
9 Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young;
·be happy [L let your heart be merry] while you are young.
·Do whatever your heart desires [L Follow the ways of your heart],
·whatever you want to do [L follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes].
But ·remember [L know] that God will ·judge you
for everything you do.
10 ·Don’t worry [L Put away anger from your heart],
and ·forget the troubles of [L turn away evil from] your body,
because youth and ·childhood [vitality] are useless [1:2].
The Problems of Old Age
12 Remember your ·Creator [or health]
·while you are young [L in the days of your youth],
before the days of ·trouble [evil] come
and the years when you say,
“I find no ·pleasure [delight] in them.”
2 When you get old,
the light from the sun, moon, and stars will grow dark,
and the rain clouds ·will never seem to go away [L return after the rain].
3 At that time ·your arms [L the guards of the house] will shake
and ·your legs [L the landowners] will ·become weak [bend].
·Your teeth will fall out so you cannot chew [L The grinders cease because they are few; C women who grind grain],
and ·your eyes will not see clearly [L those who look through the windows grow dim; C another group of women].
4 ·Your ears will be deaf to the noise [L The doors are shut] in the streets,
and ·you will barely hear the millstone grinding grain [L the sound of grinding decreases].
·You’ll wake up when a bird starts singing [L One rises at the sound of a bird],
·but you will barely hear singing [L and the daughters of song are brought low].
5 ·You [L They] will fear high places
and ·will be afraid to go for a walk [L the terrors of the street].
·Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree [L The almond tree blossoms].
·You will limp along like a grasshopper when you walk [L The grasshopper drags itself along].
Your ·appetite [or sexual desire] will be gone.
Then ·you will [L people] go to ·your [L their] everlasting home [C the grave],
and ·people will go to your funeral [L mourners walk around in the street].
6 Soon ·your life will snap like a silver chain [L the silver thread will be snapped]
·or break like a golden bowl [L and the golden bowl will be crushed].
·You will be like a broken pitcher at a spring [L The jar will be broken by the well],
·or a broken wheel at a well [L and the wheel crushed by the cistern; C metaphors of death].
7 ·You will turn back into the dust of the earth again [L The dust will return to the earth as it was],
·but your [L and the] spirit will return to God who gave it [3:21; Gen. 2:7; 3:19].
8 Everything is useless [1:2]!
The ·Teacher [or Preacher; L Assembler; 1:1] says that everything is useless [1:2].
Conclusion: Honor God
9 The ·Teacher [or Preacher; L Assembler; 1:1] was ·wise [a wise man/sage] and taught the people ·what he knew [L knowledge]. He ·very carefully thought about [L heard], ·studied [investigated], and set in order many ·wise teachings [L proverbs]. 10 The ·Teacher [or Preacher; L Assembler; 1:1] ·looked for just the right words [L sought to find words of delight] and to write what is ·dependable [honest] and true.
11 Words from wise people are like ·sharp sticks used to guide animals [goads]. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from ·one Shepherd [or a shepherd]. 12 So be ·careful [warned], my son. ·People are always writing [There is no end to the making of many] books, and too much study ·will make you tired [wearies the body].
13 Now, the end of the matter; everything has been heard:
·Honor [Fear] God [Prov. 1:7] and obey his commands,
because this is ·all people must do [L the whole duty of humanity].
14 God will ·judge everything [L bring every deed into judgment],
even ·what is done in secret [every hidden thing],
the good and the evil.
1 Solomon’s Song of Songs [C the best of songs and a song composed of many songs].
The Woman Speaks to the Man She Loves
2 Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth,
because your love is better than wine [C makes one light-headed].
3 The ·smell [scent] of your ·perfume [cologne; L oil] is ·pleasant [wonderful],
and your ·name [reputation] is pleasant like ·expensive [or poured out] ·perfume [cologne; L oil].
That’s why the young women love you.
4 ·Take me with [L Draw me after] you; let’s run together.
The king takes me into his ·rooms [bedroom; inner chamber].
Friends Speak to the Man
We will rejoice and be happy with you;
we praise your love more than wine [v. 2].
With good reason, the young women love you.
The Woman Speaks
5 I’m dark ·but [or and] ·lovely [beautiful; C she was out in the sun because her brothers forced her to work the fields; v. 6],
·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [C her friends whom she is instructing about love],
dark like the tents of Kedar [C desert nomads; Gen. 25:13; Jer. 49:28–29],
like the curtains of ·Solomon [or Salma; C south Arabian desert nomads].
6 Don’t look at how ·dark [swarthy] I am,
·at how dark the sun has made me [L because the sun scorched me].
My ·brothers [L mother’s sons] were angry with me
and made me ·tend [or guard] the vineyards,
so I haven’t ·tended [or guarded] my own ·vineyard [C referring to her body]!
7 Tell me, you whom I love,
where do you ·feed your sheep [graze]?
Where do you let them ·rest [lie down] at noon?
Why should I look for you near your friend’s sheep,
like a woman who wears a veil [C like a prostitute going tent to tent; Gen. 38:14–15]?
The Man Speaks to the Woman
8 You are the most beautiful of women.
Surely you know to follow the tracks of the sheep
and feed your young goats
near the shepherds’ tents.
9 My darling, you are like a mare
among the ·king’s [L Pharaoh’s] stallions [C driving them crazy with desire].
10 Your cheeks are beautiful ·with ornaments [L between earrings],
and your neck with ·jewels [a necklace].
11 We will make for you gold earrings
with silver ·hooks [studs].
The Woman Speaks
12 The smell of my ·perfume [nard] spreads out
to the king on his couch.
13 My lover is like a ·bag [sachet] of myrrh
that ·lies all night [lodges] between my breasts [C intimately].
14 My lover is like a ·bunch [cluster] of ·flowers [L henna blossoms; C pleasant smelling and used to dye hair red]
from the vineyards at En Gedi [C a romantic location with a waterfall near the Dead Sea].
The Man Speaks
15 My darling, you are beautiful!
Oh, you are beautiful,
and your eyes are like doves [C perhaps fluttering or a reference to softness and beauty].
The Woman Answers the Man
16 You are so handsome, my lover,
and so ·pleasant [or lovely]!
Our bed is ·the grass [green].
17 Cedar trees form ·our roof [L the boards of our house];
our ·ceiling [rafters] is made of juniper wood [C they find intimacy outdoors].
The Woman Speaks Again
2 I am a ·rose [or flower] in the Plain of Sharon [C a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast],
a lily in the valleys [C she claims to be ordinary].
The Man Speaks Again
2 Among the ·young women [girls], my darling
is like a lily among thorns [C she is extraordinarily beautiful]!
The Woman Answers
3 Among the ·young men [boys], my lover
is like an apple tree ·in the woods [L among the trees of the forest; C he is extraordinary; the apple tree is fruitful and pleasant smelling]!
I ·enjoy sitting in [desire] his ·shadow [shade];
his fruit is sweet to my ·taste [palate].
4 He brought me to the ·banquet room [L house of wine],
and his banner over me is love [C his love for her is well known].
5 Strengthen me with ·raisins [raisin cakes],
and refresh me with apples [C considered aphrodisiacs],
because I am ·weak [faint] with love.
6 My lover’s left hand is under my head,
and his right arm ·holds me tight [embraces me; 8:3].
The Woman Speaks to the Friends
7 ·Women [L Daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5], ·promise me [I adjure you]
by the gazelles and the deer of the field [C in Hebrew sounds like “by the (Lord) of Hosts” or “by God Almighty”]
not to awaken
or ·excite [arouse] love
until it ·is ready [so desires; C likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; 3:5; 8:4].
The Woman Speaks Again
8 I hear ·my lover’s voice [the sound of my lover].
Here he comes ·jumping [leaping] across the mountains,
·skipping [bounding] over the hills [C he moves with agile grace and speed].
9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag].
Look, he stands behind our wall
·peeking [staring] through the windows,
looking through the ·blinds [lattice].
10 My lover spoke and said to me,
“·Get [Rise] up, my darling;
let’s go away, my beautiful one.
11 Look, the winter is past;
the rains are over and gone [C spring has arrived, the time of love].
12 Blossoms appear through all the land.
The time has come to sing;
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
13 There are young figs ·on [L ripening on] the fig trees,
and the blossoms on the vines ·smell sweet [L spread their fragrance].
·Get [Rise] up, my darling;
let’s go away, my beautiful one.”
The Man Speaks
14 My beloved is like a dove hiding in the ·cracks [crevices] of the rock,
in the ·secret [hiding] places of the cliff.
·Show me [Let me see] your ·face [L form],
and let me hear your voice.
Your voice is ·sweet [agreeable],
and your ·face [form] is ·lovely [pleasant].
15 ·Catch [Grab] the foxes for us—
the little foxes that ruin the vineyards
while they are in blossom [C threats to the relationship].
The Woman Speaks
16 My lover is mine, and I am his [6:3; 7:11].
He ·feeds [grazes] among the lilies
17 until the day dawns
and the shadows ·disappear [flee].
Turn, my lover.
Be like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag]
on the ·mountain valleys [or the mountains of Bether].
The Woman Dreams
3 ·At night [or During many nights] on my bed,
I ·looked [searched] for the one ·I love [my soul loves];
I ·looked [searched] for him, but I could not find him.
2 I ·got [rose] up and went around the city,
in the streets and ·squares [public areas],
·looking [searching] for the one ·I love [my soul loves].
I ·looked [searched] for him, but I could not find him.
3 The ·watchmen [guards; C ancient equivalent to the police] found me as they patrolled the city,
so I asked, “Have you seen the one ·I love [L my soul loves]?”
4 ·As soon as [or A little while after] I had left them,
I found the one ·I love [L my soul loves].
I ·held [seized; grabbed] him and would not let him go
until I brought him to my mother’s house,
to the room where ·I was born [L she conceived me; 8:2].
The Woman Speaks to the Friends
5 ·Women [L Daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5], ·promise me [I adjure you]
by the gazelles and the deer of the field [C in Hebrew sounds like “by the (Lord) of Hosts” or “by God Almighty”]
not to awaken
or ·excite [arouse] love
until it ·is ready [so desires; C likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; 2:7; 8:4].
6 ·Who [or What] is this coming out of the ·desert [wilderness]
like a ·cloud [pillar] of smoke?
·Who is this that smells like [L …perfumed with] myrrh, ·incense [frankincense],
and ·other spices [L from all the scented powders of the trader]?
7 Look, it’s Solomon’s ·couch [palanquin; litter; C a bed carried by servants]
with sixty soldiers around it,
the ·finest soldiers [heroes; mighty men] of Israel.
8 These soldiers all carry swords
and have been trained in war.
Every man wears a sword at his ·side [thigh]
and is ready for the dangers of the night.
9 King Solomon had a ·couch [litter; v. 7] made for himself
of wood from Lebanon.
10 He made its posts of silver
and its ·braces [canopy] of gold.
The seat was covered with purple [C the color of royalty] cloth
that the ·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5] ·wove [inlaid its interior] with love.
11 ·Women [L Daughters] of ·Jerusalem [L Zion; 1:5], go out and see King Solomon.
He is wearing the crown his mother put on his head
on his wedding day,
when his heart was happy!
The Man Speaks to the Woman
4 How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, you are beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil [C imparting a sense of mystery] are like doves [1:15].
Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead [C a beautiful site in central Transjordan near the Jabbok river; the image indicates lush, flowing hair].
2 Your teeth are like ·newly [L a flock of] sheared sheep
just coming from ·their bath [a washing; C white].
Each one has a twin,
and none of them is missing [C a compliment in an age before dentistry].
3 Your lips are like ·red silk [a scarlet] thread,
and your mouth is ·lovely [or desirable].
Your ·cheeks [or temple] behind your veil
are like slices of a pomegranate [C reddish orange].
4 Your neck is like David’s tower [C dignified; strong],
built ·with rows of stones [in courses].
A thousand shields hang on its walls [C a necklace that enhances her beauty];
each shield belongs to a ·strong soldier [hero].
5 Your breasts are like two fawns,
like twins of a gazelle,
·feeding [grazing] among the lilies.
6 Until the day dawns
and the shadows ·disappear [flee],
I will go to that mountain of myrrh
and to that hill of ·incense [frankincense; C referring to the woman].
7 My darling, everything about you is beautiful,
and ·there is nothing at all wrong with you [you have no blemish].
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.
Come with me from Lebanon,
from the top of Mount Amana,
from the tops of Mount Senir and Mount Hermon.
Come from the lions’ dens
and from the leopards’ hills [C apart from him she is in a dangerous place].
9 My sister [C an ancient term of endearment], my bride,
you ·have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy];
you ·have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy]
with ·a [L one] glance of your eyes,
with one ·sparkle [L jewel] from your necklace.
10 ·Your love is so sweet [L How beautiful is your love], my sister [4:9], my bride.
Your love is better than wine [C makes one lightheaded],
and ·your perfume [L the scent of your oils] smells better than any spice.
11 My bride, your lips drip honey;
honey and milk are under your tongue [C sensuous liquids that he will explore].
Your clothes smell like the cedars of Lebanon [C the best cedars].
12 My sister [4:9], my bride, you are like a garden locked up [C she has not been entered by a man],
like a ·walled-in [sealed] spring, a ·closed-up [locked] fountain.
13 Your ·limbs [L shoots; C a botanical term either referring to the woman’s legs or her genital organs] are like an orchard
of pomegranates with all the best fruit,
filled with ·flowers [henna; 1:14] and nard,
14 nard and saffron [C spicy floral scent], calamus [C woody odor], and cinnamon,
with trees of incense, myrrh [C aromatic gum from tree bark], and aloes [C a fragrant wood]—
all the best spices.
15 You are like a garden fountain—
a well of ·fresh [L living] water
·flowing [streaming] down from the mountains of Lebanon.
The Woman Speaks
16 Awake, north wind.
Come, south wind.
Blow on my garden,
and let its ·sweet smells [spices] flow out.
Let my lover enter the garden
and eat its best fruits [C she desires physical intimacy].
The Man Speaks
5 I have entered my garden, my sister [4:9], my bride.
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey.
I have drunk my wine and my milk [C he enjoys physical intimacy with her].
The Friends Speak
Eat, friends, and drink;
yes, ·drink deeply [be intoxicated], lovers.
The Woman Dreams
2 I sleep, but my ·heart [mind] ·is awake [was alert].
·I hear [L The sound of] my lover knocking.
“Open to me, my sister [4:9; C he desires physical intimacy], my darling,
my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one.
My head is ·wet with [L full of] dew,
and my hair with the ·dampness [drizzle] of the night.”
3 I have taken off my ·garment [clothes]
·and don’t want to put it on [L should I get dressed…?] again.
I have washed my feet
·and don’t want to get [L should I get…?] them dirty again.
4 My lover put his hand through the ·opening [L hole],
and I felt ·excited inside [aroused; warmed].
5 I got up to open the door for my lover.
Myrrh was dripping from my hands
and liquid myrrh [4:14] was flowing from my fingers,
onto the handles of the lock.
6 I opened the door for my lover,
but my lover had left and was gone.
When he spoke, ·he took my breath away [L my spirit went out].
I ·looked for [sought] him, but I could not find him;
I called for him, but he did not answer.
7 The ·watchmen [guards; C an ancient equivalent to police; 3:3] found me
·as they patrolled [those who make their rounds in] the city.
They hit me and ·hurt [bruised] me;
the guards ·on the wall took away my veil [L lifted my garments from me].
8 ·Promise me [I adjure you], ·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5],
if you find my lover,
·tell him [L what should you say to him? That] I am weak with love.
The Friends Answer the Woman
9 How is your lover better than other lovers,
most beautiful of women?
How is your lover better than other lovers?
Why do you want us to promise this?
The Woman Answers the Friends
10 My lover is ·healthy [radiant] and ·tan [ruddy],
·the best of [distinguished among] ten thousand men.
11 His head is like ·the finest [pure] gold;
his hair is wavy and black like a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves [1:15]
by ·springs [streams] of water.
They seem to be bathed in ·cream [milk; C referring to the white of the eye]
·and are set like jewels [or sitting by pools].
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices [C his beard is perfumed];
·they smell like mounds of perfume [L growing aromatics].
His lips are like lilies
flowing with myrrh [4:14].
14 His ·hands [or arms] are like gold ·hinges [or bars],
·filled with jewels [L set with Tarshish stones; C a location in Spain; perhaps a black jet stone or golden topaz].
His ·body [or member] is like ·shiny ivory [or an ivory tusk]
·covered with sapphires [ornamented with lapis].
15 His legs are like large marble ·posts [pillars],
standing on ·bases [pedestals] of fine gold.
·He is like a cedar of [L His appearance is like] Lebanon,
·like the finest of the trees [L choice like the cedars].
16 His mouth is sweet [C to kiss],
and ·I desire him very much [he is totally desirable].
Yes, ·daughters [women] of Jerusalem [1:5],
this is my lover
and my ·friend [darling].
The Friends Speak to the Woman
6 Where has your lover gone,
most beautiful of women?
Which way did your lover turn?
We will ·look [search] for him with you.
The Woman Answers the Friends
2 My lover has gone down to his garden,
to the beds of spices,
to ·feed [graze] in the gardens
and to ·gather [pluck] lilies.
3 I belong to my lover,
and my lover belongs to me [2:16; 7:11].
He ·feeds [grazes] among the lilies.
The Man Speaks to the Woman
4 My darling, you are as beautiful as the city of Tirzah [C onetime capital of the northern kingdom of Israel; the name means “pleasant”; 1 Kin. 14:17; 15:21],
as lovely as the city of Jerusalem [C the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah; Ps. 122],
·like an army flying flags [L awesome like an army under banners].
5 Turn your eyes from me,
because they ·excite me too much [unsettle me].
Your hair is like a flock of goats
streaming down Mount Gilead [4:1].
6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep
just coming from ·their bath [a washing; C white];
each one has a twin,
and none of them is missing [4:2].
7 Your ·cheeks [or temple] behind your veil
are like slices of a pomegranate [reddish orange; 4:3].
8 There may be sixty queens and eighty ·slave women [concubines; C secondary wives]
and so many girls you cannot count them,
9 but there is only one like my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one.
She is her mother’s only daughter,
the ·brightest [favored] of the one who gave her birth.
The ·young women [L daughters] saw her and called her ·happy [blessed];
the queens and the ·slave women [concubines, v. 8] also praised her.
The Young Women Praise the Woman
10 Who is that young woman
that ·shines out [L looks down] like the dawn?
She is as ·pretty [beautiful] as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
·as wonderful as an army flying flags [awesome like an army under banners; v. 4].
The Man Speaks
11 I went down into the ·orchard [grove] of nut trees
to see the ·blossoms [new growth] of the valley,
to look for buds on the vines,
to see if the pomegranate trees had bloomed.
12 Before I realized it, my desire ·for you made me feel
like a prince in a chariot [or placed me in the chariots of Amminadab; C perhaps a well-known lover like Romeo].
The Friends Call to the Woman
13 ·Come back [or Turn around], ·come back [or turn around], woman of Shulam [C feminine form of Solomon, both based on the Hebrew root meaning “peace”; their union brings contentment].
·Come back [or Turn around], ·come back [or turn around],
so we may look at you!
The Woman Answers the Friends
Why do you want to look at the woman of Shulam
as you would at the dance of two armies [C as at a mesmerizing sight]?
The Man Speaks to the Woman
7 Your feet are beautiful in sandals,
you ·daughter of a prince [noble daughter].
Your round ·thighs [or hips] are like ·jewels [L rings]
·shaped by an artist [L the work of the hands of a craftsman].
2 Your navel is like a round drinking cup
·always filled with [L that does not lack] wine.
Your ·stomach [belly] is like a ·pile [heap] of wheat
·surrounded [bordered] with lilies.
3 Your breasts are like two fawns,
like twins of a gazelle [4:5].
4 Your neck is like an ivory tower [C grand, strong, dignified].
Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon [C a beautiful area located near the Dead Sea]
near the gate of Bath Rabbim.
Your nose is like the mountain of Lebanon
·that looks down on [keeping watch toward] Damascus.
5 Your head is like Mount Carmel [C a prominent, rounded, and attractive mountain],
and your hair is like purple cloth [C a royal color];
the king is ·captured [ensnared] in its folds.
6 You are beautiful and pleasant;
my love, you are full of delights.
7 You are like a palm tree [C tall and slender],
and your breasts are like its bunches of fruit.
8 I said, “I will climb up the palm tree
and ·take hold of [grasp] its fruit.”
Let your breasts be like ·bunches of grapes [L clusters of the vine],
the smell of your breath like apples,
9 and your mouth like the best wine.
The Woman Speaks to the Man
Let this wine go down sweetly for my lover;
may it flow gently past the lips and teeth.
10 I belong to my lover,
and he desires only me [2:16; 6:3].
11 Come, my lover,
let’s go out ·into the country [L to the field; C a private place for intimacy]
and spend the night in the ·fields [villages].
12 Let’s go early to the vineyards
and see if the buds are on the vines.
Let’s see if the blossoms have already opened
and if the pomegranates have bloomed.
There I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes [C an aphrodisiac; Gen. 30:14–16] give their sweet smell,
and all the best ·fruits [gifts] are at our ·gates [entrance].
I have ·saved them [treasured them up] for you, my lover,
the old and the new [C everything near and dear].
8 I wish you were like my brother
who ·fed [L sucked] at my mother’s breasts [C so she could be affectionate toward him in public].
If I found you outside,
I would kiss you,
and no one would ·look down on [shame] me.
2 I would lead you and bring you
to my mother’s house;
she is the one who taught me.
I would give you a drink of spiced wine
from my pomegranates.
The Woman Speaks to the Friends
3 My lover’s left hand is under my head,
and his right arm ·holds me tight [embraces me; 2:6].
4 ·Women [L Daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5],
·promise [I adjure you] not to awaken
or ·excite [arouse] love
until it ·is ready [so desires; C likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; 2:7; 3:5].
The Friends Speak
5 Who is this coming out of the ·desert [wilderness; 3:6],
leaning on her lover?
The Man Speaks to the Woman
I ·woke [aroused] you under the apple tree
where ·you were born [L your mother conceived you];
there ·your mother gave birth to you [L the one who gave you birth conceived you].
6 ·Put [Set] me like a seal [C leaving an impression on clay, showing ownership] on your heart [C inside],
like a seal on your arm [C outside].
Love is as strong as death;
·jealousy [or passion] is as ·strong [tenacious] as the grave.
·Love bursts into flames [L Its flame is an intense fire]
·and burns like a hot fire [or a godlike flame].
7 Even much water cannot put out the flame of love;
floods cannot ·drown [flood] love.
If a man offered ·everything [L all the wealth] in his house for love,
·people would totally reject it [or he would be completely despised].
The Woman’s Brothers Speak
8 We have a ·little [small] sister,
and ·her breasts are not yet grown [L she has no breasts].
What should we do for our sister
on the day she ·becomes engaged [L is spoken for; C brothers were in charge of marriage negotiations]?
9 If she is a wall [C chaste],
we will put silver towers on her [C support and honor her].
If she is a door [C promiscuous],
we will ·protect [enclose] her with cedar boards [C put a stop to her sexual activity].
The Woman Speaks
10 I am a wall [C chaste],
and my breasts are like towers [C she is mature].
So I ·was to him [or will be in his eyes],
as one who brings ·happiness [peace; contentment].
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.
He ·rented [entrusted] the vineyards ·for others to tend [or to guards],
and everyone who rented had to pay
·twenty-five pounds [L a thousand pieces] of silver for the fruit.
12 But my own vineyard is mine ·to give [alone].
Solomon, the ·twenty-five pounds [L thousand pieces] of silver are for you,
and ·five pounds [L two hundred] are for those who ·tend [guard] the fruit.
The Man Speaks to the Woman
13 You who live in the gardens,
my friends are listening for your voice;
let me hear it.
The Woman Speaks to the Man
14 ·Hurry [Sneak away], my lover,
be like a gazelle
or a young deer
on the mountains where spices grow.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.