5 Dark am I, yet lovely,

daughters of Jerusalem,

dark like the tents of Kedar,

like the tent curtains of Solomon.

6 Do 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 had to neglect.

7 Tell 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?

5 I am very dark, but lovely,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar,

like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark,

because the sun has looked upon me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have not kept!

7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves,

where you pasture your flock,

where you make it lie down at noon;

for why should I be like one who veils herself

beside the flocks of your companions?

5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,

As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

6 Look not upon me, because I am black,

Because the sun hath looked upon me:

My mother’s children were angry with me;

They made me the keeper of the vineyards;

But mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,

Where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon:

For why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

5 I am dark but beautiful,

O women of Jerusalem—

dark as the tents of Kedar,

dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents.

6 Don’t stare at me because I am dark—

the sun has darkened my skin.

My brothers were angry with me;

they forced me to care for their vineyards,

so I couldn’t care for myself—my own vineyard.

7 Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today?

Where will you rest your sheep at noon?

For why should I wander like a prostitute

among your friends and their flocks?

5 I am dark, but lovely,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

Like the tents of Kedar,

Like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not look upon me, because I am dark,

Because the sun has tanned me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

They made me the keeper of the vineyards,

But my own vineyard I have not kept.

7 Tell me, O you whom I love,

Where you feed your flock,

Where you make it rest at noon.

For why should I be as one who veils herself

By the flocks of your companions?

5 I’m dark but lovely,

women of Jerusalem,

dark like the tents of Kedar,

like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Don’t look at how dark I am,

at how dark the sun has made me.

My brothers were angry with me

and made me tend the vineyards,

so I haven’t tended my own vineyard!

7 Tell me, you whom I love,

where do you feed your sheep?

Where do you let them rest at noon?

Why should I look for you near your friend’s sheep,

like a woman who wears a veil?

5 I am black, but comely,

Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem,

As the tents of Kedar,

As the curtains of Solomon.

6 Look not upon me, because I am swarthy,

Because the sun hath scorched me.

My mother’s sons were incensed against me;

They made me keeper of the vineyards;

But mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,

Where thou feedest thy flock,

Where thou makest it to rest at noon:

For why should I be as one that is veiled

Beside the flocks of thy companions?

5 I am black, but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. 6 Look not upon me, because I am black; Because the sun hath looked upon me. My mother’s children were angry with me: They made me keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7 Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou makest it to rest at noon; For why should I be as one veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?

5 Young women of Jerusalem, I am dark and lovely 

like Kedar’s tents, 

like Solomon’s curtains. 

6 Stop staring at me because I am so dark. 

The sun has tanned me. 

My brothers were angry with me. 

They made me the caretaker of the vineyards. 

I have not even taken care of my own vineyard. 

7 Please tell me, you whom I love, where do you graze your flock? 

Where does your flock lie down at noon? 

⸤Tell me,⸥ or I will be considered a prostitute 

⸤wandering⸥ among the flocks of your companions. 

5 Daughters of Jerusalem,

I am dark like the tents of Kedar,

yet lovely like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not stare at me because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed on me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me a keeper of the vineyards.

I have not kept my own vineyard.

7 Tell me, you, the one I love:

Where do you pasture your sheep?

Where do you let them rest at noon?

Why should I be like one who veils herself

beside the flocks of your companions?

5 I am black and beautiful,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar,

like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark,

because the sun has gazed on me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have not kept!

7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves,

where you pasture your flock,

where you make it lie down at noon;

for why should I be like one who is veiled

beside the flocks of your companions?

5 I am black but beautiful, O maidens of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not gaze at me because I am black,

because the sun has stared at me.

The sons of my mother were angry with me;

they made me keeper of the vineyards,

but my own “vineyard” I did not keep.

7 Tell me, you whom my heart loves,

where do you pasture your flock,

where do your sheep lie down at the noon?

For why should I be like one who is veiled

beside the flocks of your companions?

5 “Women of Jerusalem,

my skin is dark but lovely.

It is dark like the tents in Kedar.

It’s like the curtains of Solomon’s tent.

6 Don’t stare at me because I’m dark.

The sun has made my skin look like this.

My brothers burned with anger against me.

They made me take care of the vineyards.

I haven’t even taken care of my own vineyard.

7 “King Solomon, I love you.

So tell me where you take care of your flock.

Tell me where you rest your sheep at noon.

Why should I have to act like a prostitute

near the flocks of your friends?”

The other women say,