1Solomon’s Song of Songs.

Beloved^a

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—

for your love is more delightful than wine.

3Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens love you!

4Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the king bring me into his chambers.

Friends

We rejoice and delight in you^b;

we will praise your love more than wine.

Beloved

How right they are to adore you!

5Dark am I, yet lovely,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

dark like the tents of Kedar,

like the tent curtains of Solomon.^c

6Do not stare at me because I am dark,

because I am darkened by the sun.

My mother’s sons were angry with me

and made me take care of the vineyards;

my own vineyard I have neglected.

7Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock

and where you rest your sheep at midday.

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your friends?

Friends

8If you do not know, most beautiful of women,

follow the tracks of the sheep

and graze your young goats

by the tents of the shepherds.

Lover

9I liken you, my darling, to a mare

harnessed to one of the chariots of Pharaoh.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,

your neck with strings of jewels.

11We will make you earrings of gold,

studded with silver.

Beloved

12While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

13My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

14My lover is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

from the vineyards of En Gedi.

Lover

15How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how beautiful!

Your eyes are doves.

Beloved

16How handsome you are, my lover!

Oh, how charming!

And our bed is verdant.

Lover

17The beams of our house are cedars;

our rafters are firs.