cIn the maiden’s soliloquy, she thinks about her beloved in her thoughts (“May he kiss me!”), then poetically speaks to him as if he were in her presence (“for your love is better than wine”). To avoid confusion, the translation uses the second-person form throughout vv. 2–4
dLiterally “with the kisses of his mouth”
eThe shift from the third person “he … his” to the second person “you … your” in vv. 2–4 should not be interpreted as suggesting two different referents, that is, one male whom the maiden is addressing as “you,” and another to whom she refers as “he.” Rather, this shift is a poetic device (called “grammatical differentiation”) that is not uncommon in Hebrew poetry (e.g., Gen 49:4; Deut 32:15; Psa 23:2–5; Isa 1:29; 42:20; 54:1; Jer 22:24; Amos 4:1; Mic 7:19; Lam 3:1; Song 4:2; 6:6). This shift is characteristic of a soliloquy, a dramatic or literary form in which a character reveals her thoughts without addressing a listener who is actually present (e.g., 2 Sam 19:4). In this case, the maiden’s private thoughts about her beloved (v. 2a) shift to an imaginary address to her beloved (vv. 2b–4a)
fLiterally “your oil lotions”
gLiterally “good”
hLiterally “oil lotion”
iOr “The king has brought me into his chambers”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is better than wine;

your anointing oils are fragrant;

your name is oil poured out;

therefore virgins love you.

Draw me after you; let us run.

The king has brought me into his chambers.

We will exult and rejoice in you;

we will extol your love more than wine;

rightly do they love you.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—

for your love is more delightful than wine.

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the young women love you!

Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the king bring me into his chambers.

We rejoice and delight in you;

we will praise your love more than wine.

How right they are to adore you!

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your caresses are more delightful than wine.

The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating;

your name is perfume poured out.

No wonder young women adore you.

Take me with you—let’s hurry.

Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers.

We will rejoice and be glad in you;

we will celebrate your caresses more than wine.

It is only right that they adore you.

NLTNew Living Translation

Kiss me and kiss me again,

for your love is sweeter than wine.

How pleasing is your fragrance;

your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils.

No wonder all the young women love you!

Take me with you; come, let’s run!

The king has brought me into his bedroom.

How happy we are for you, O king.

We praise your love even more than wine.

How right they are to adore you.

KJV 1900King James Version

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth:

For thy love is better than wine.

Because of the savour of thy good ointments

Thy name is as ointment poured forth,

Therefore do the virgins love thee.

Draw me, we will run after thee:

The king hath brought me into his chambers:

We will be glad and rejoice in thee,

We will remember thy love more than wine:

The upright love thee.

Public Domain