Song of Songs 1

1The Song of Songs, the greatest of songs, which is Solomon’s. 2May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! Your love is better than wine. 3The scent of your perfumes is lovely; your name is perfume poured out; that is why the young women love you. 4Take me with you; let us run! The king has brought me into his rooms. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will celebrate your love more than wine. How right they are to love you!

5I am dark and lovely, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like Solomon’s curtains. 6Do not stare at me because I am so dark, because the sun has looked down on me. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards; my own vineyard I have not looked after. 7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where do you graze your flock? Where do you let it rest at noon? Why should I be like a woman wearing a veil beside the flocks of your companions? 8If you do not know, most beautiful of women, go out and follow the flock’s tracks, and graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

9I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots. 10Your cheeks are lovely between the ornaments, your neck with its strings of beads. 11We will make you ornaments of gold, set with points of silver. 12While the king was on his couch, my nard gave off its scent. 13My beloved is a pouch of myrrh to me, resting all night between my breasts. 14My beloved is a cluster of henna blossoms for me in the vineyards of En-gedi.

15How beautiful you are, my darling! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are doves. 16How handsome you are, my beloved, how delightful! Our couch is green and leafy. 17The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are cypresses.