Song of Solomon 1

¹The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. ^a

Woman

²Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your caresses ^b are more delightful than wine. ^c

³The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating; ^d

your name is perfume poured out. ^e

No wonder young women ^f adore you.

⁴Take me with you ^g #— #let’s hurry.

Oh, that the king would bring ^h me to his chambers.

Young Women

We will rejoice and be glad in you;

we will celebrate your caresses more than wine.

Woman

It is only right that they adore you.

⁵Daughters of Jerusalem, ⁱ

I am dark like the tents of Kedar, ^j

yet lovely ^k like the curtains of Solomon.

⁶Do not stare at me because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed on me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me; ^l

they made me take care of the vineyards. ^m

I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

⁷Tell me, you whom I love: ⁿ

Where do you pasture your sheep? ^o

Where do you let them rest at noon? ^p

Why should I be like one who veils herself ^q

beside the flocks of your companions? ^r

Man ^s

⁸If you do not know,

most beautiful of women, ^t

follow ^u the tracks of the flock,

and pasture your young goats

near the shepherds’ tents.

⁹I compare you, my darling, ^v

to a ^w mare among Pharaoh’s chariots. ^x

¹⁰Your cheeks are beautiful with jewelry, ^y

your neck with its necklace.

¹¹We will make gold jewelry for you,

accented with silver.

Woman

¹²While the king is on his couch, ^z

my perfume ^aa releases its fragrance. ^ab

¹³The one I love is a sachet of myrrh to me, ^ac

spending the night between my breasts.

¹⁴The one I love is a cluster of henna blossoms to me, ^ad

in the vineyards of En-gedi. ^ae

Man

¹⁵How beautiful you are, my darling.

How very beautiful!

Your eyes are doves. ^af

Woman

¹⁶How handsome you are, my love. ^ag

How delightful!

Our bed is verdant;

¹⁷the beams of our house are cedars,

and our rafters are cypresses. ^ah