Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹ For the music director, according to “Lilies.” Of the sons of Korah, a contemplative song, a love song.
² My heart is stirred with a good word.
I speak my verses to the king.
My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

⁶ Your arrows are sharp.
Peoples fall beneath you—
into the heart of the king’s enemies.
⁷ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
and a scepter of justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
⁸ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore, God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.^[a]
9 All your robes have myrrh, aloes, cassia.
From ivory palaces, stringed instruments
make you glad.

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine.
³ Your ointments have a pleasing fragrance.
Your name is poured out like perfume.
No wonder maidens love you!
⁴ Draw me after you, let us run!
The king has brought me into his chambers.

Let us rejoice and be glad in you;
    let us extol your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you!

⁵ I am black, but beautiful,
    O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
    like the curtains of Solomon.
⁶ Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
    because the sun has looked on me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
    and made me keeper of the vineyards;
    my very own vineyard I have not kept.
⁷ Tell me, the one my soul loves,
    where you graze your flock,
    where you make it lie down at noon?
Why should I be as one veiled
    beside the flocks of your companions?

⁸ If you yourself do not know,
    O most beautiful among women,
go out yourself in the footsteps of the flock
    and graze your kids by the shepherds’ tents.
⁹ I compare you, my darling,
    to my mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
¹⁰ Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
    your neck with strings of beads.
¹¹ Ornaments of gold we will make for you
    with spangles of silver.