Chapter 1
1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
The Woman Speaks of Her Lover
2 W Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth,
for your love is better than wine,
3 better than the fragrance of your perfumes.
Your name is a flowing perfume—
therefore young women love you.
4 Draw 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!
Love’s Boast
5 W I am black and beautiful,
Daughters of Jerusalem—
Like the tents of Qedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do 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.
Love’s Inquiry
7 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?
8 M If you do not know,
most beautiful among women,
Follow the tracks of the flock
and pasture your lambs
near the shepherds’ tents.
Love’s Vision
9 M To a mare among Pharaoh’s chariotry
I compare you, my friend:
10 Your cheeks lovely in pendants,
your neck in jewels.
11 We will make pendants of gold for you,
and ornaments of silver.
How Near Is Love!
12 W While the king was upon his couch,
my spikenard gave forth its fragrance.
13 My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh;
between my breasts he lies.
14 My lover is to me a cluster of henna
from the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 M How beautiful you are, my friend,
how beautiful! your eyes are doves!
16 W How beautiful you are, my lover—
handsome indeed!
Verdant indeed is our couch;
17 the beams of our house are cedars,
our rafters, cypresses.