1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
2The Woman Speaks of Her Lover - W Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine,
3better than the fragrance of your perfumes. Your name is a flowing perfume— therefore young women love you.
4Draw me after you! Let us run! The king has brought me to his bed chambers. Let us exult and rejoice in you; let us celebrate your love: it is beyond wine! Rightly do they love you!
5Love’s Boast - W I am black and beautiful, Daughters of Jerusalem— Like the tents of Qedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6Do not stare at me because I am so black, because the sun has burned me. The sons of my mother were angry with me; they charged me with the care of the vineyards: my own vineyard I did not take care of.
7Love’s Inquiry - W Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you shepherd, where you give rest at midday. Why should I be like one wandering after the flocks of your companions?
8M If you do not know, most beautiful among women, Follow the tracks of the flock and pasture your lambs near the shepherds’ tents.
9Love’s Vision - M To a mare among Pharaoh’s chariotry I compare you, my friend:
10Your cheeks lovely in pendants, your neck in jewels.
11We will make pendants of gold for you, and ornaments of silver.
12How Near Is Love! - W While the king was upon his couch, my spikenard gave forth its fragrance.
13My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh; between my breasts he lies.
14My lover is to me a cluster of henna from the vineyards of En-gedi.
15M How beautiful you are, my friend, how beautiful! your eyes are doves!
16W How beautiful you are, my lover— handsome indeed! Verdant indeed is our couch;
17the beams of our house are cedars, our rafters, cypresses.