Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

45 To the overcomer for the lilies, the most loved song of learning of the sons of Korah. Mine heart hath told out a good word; I say my works to the king. My tongue is the pen of a writer; writing swiftly. (To the overcomer, for the lilies, the most loved song, for the sons of Korah, for their teaching. My heart hath told out a good word; I tell of my works to the king. My tongue is like the pen of a writer, yea, writing swiftly.)

² Christ, thou art fairer in shape than the sons of men; grace is spread abroad in thy lips; therefore God blessed thee [into] without end. (Thou anointed king, thou art more comely in appearance than any other man; grace is spread abroad by thy lips/thy lips speak most eloquently; yea, God hath blessed thee forever.)

⁶ God, thy seat is into the world of world; the rod of thy realm is a rod of right ruling, or of equity. (Like God, thy throne shall last forever; and the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of justice, yea, of equity and fairness.)

⁷ Thou lovedest rightfulness, and hatedest wickedness; therefore thou, God, thy God (and so God, thy God), anointed thee with the oil of gladness, more than thy fellows.

⁸ Myrrh, and gum, and cassia, of thy clothes, (out) of the ivory houses/(out) of the house of ivory; of which the daughters of kings delighted thee. (Myrrh, and gum, and cassia be the perfumes of thy clothes; and the sound of music coming forth from the ivory palace delighteth thee.)

⁹ A queen stood nigh on thy right side, in clothing overgilded; compassed with diversity. (The daughters of kings be there among thy honourable women; the queen standeth nigh on thy right side, in clothing overgilded with the gold of Ophir.)

2 I am a flower of the field, and a lily of great valleys. (I am a flower of Sharon, and a lily of the great valley.)

² As a lily among thorns, so is my friendess among daughters. (Like a lily among the thorns, is my friendess among the daughters.)

³ As an apple tree among the trees of woods, so (is) my darling among (the) sons. I sat under the shadow of him, whom I desired; and his fruit was sweet to my throat. (Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, is my darling among the sons of men. I sat under his shadow, yea, he whom I desired; and his fruit was sweet to my taste.)

⁴ The king led me into the wine cellar; he ordained charity in me (he ordained his love upon me).

⁵ Beset ye me with flowers, compass ye me with apples; for I am sick for love. (Put ye flowers about me, yea, surround ye me with apple blossoms; for I am weak, or I faint, because of love.)

⁶ His left hand is under mine head; and his right hand shall embrace me.

⁷ Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you greatly, by caprets, and harts of fields, that ye raise not, neither make to awake the dearworthy spousess, till she will. (Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I strongly command you, by the gazelles, and the harts of the fields, that ye raise not up, nor awaken the dearworthy spousess, until she desireth it.)

⁹ And a meek brother have glory in his enhancing. [Forsooth a meek brother glory in his enhancing.]

¹⁰ and a rich man in his lowness; for as the flower of grass he shall pass.

¹¹ The sun rose up with heat, and dried the grass, and the flower of it felled down, and the fairness of his face perished; and so a rich man withereth in his ways.^[a]

¹² Blessed is the man, that suffereth temptation; for when he shall be proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which God promised to men that love him.

¹³ No man when he is tempted, say, that he is tempted of God; for why God is not a tempter of evil things, for he tempteth no man.

¹⁴ But each man is tempted, drawn and stirred of his own coveting. [Soothly each man is tempted of his own coveting, drawn from reason, and snared, or deceived.]

¹⁵ Afterward coveting [Then coveting], when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin; but sin, when it is filled, engendereth death [soothly sin, when it is fulfilled, gendereth death].

¹⁶ Therefore [And so], my most dear-worthy brethren, do not ye err.