Chapter 1

The Young Shulammite Bride and Jerusalem’s Daughters

1 The 1Song of aSongs, which is Solomon’s.

2 “1May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your alove is better than wine.

3 “Your aoils have a pleasing fragrance,

Your bname is like 1purified oil;

Therefore the 2cmaidens love you.

4 “Draw me after you and let us run together!

The aking has brought me into his chambers.”

“1We will rejoice in you and be glad;

We will 2extol your blove more than wine.

Rightly do they love you.”

5 “1I am black but alovely,

O bdaughters of Jerusalem,

Like the ctents of dKedar,

Like the curtains of Solomon.

6 “Do not stare at me because I am 1swarthy,

For the sun has burned me.

My amother’s sons were angry with me;

They made me bcaretaker of the vineyards,

But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

7 “Tell me, O you awhom my soul loves,

Where do you bpasture your flock,

Where do you make it clie down at noon?

For why should I be like one who 1veils herself

Beside the flocks of your dcompanions?”

Solomon, the Lover, Speaks

8 “1If you yourself do not know,

aMost beautiful among women,

Go forth on the trail of the flock

And pasture your young goats

By the tents of the shepherds.

9 “1To me, amy darling, you are like

My bmare among the chariots of Pharaoh.

10 “Your acheeks are lovely with ornaments,

Your neck with strings of bbeads.”

11 “1We will make for you ornaments of gold

With beads of silver.”

12 “1While the king was at his 2table,

My 3aperfume gave forth its fragrance.

13 “My beloved is to me a pouch of amyrrh

Which lies all night between my breasts.

14 “My beloved is to me a cluster of ahenna blossoms

In the vineyards of bEngedi.”

15 “1, 2aHow beautiful you are, my darling,

2 How beautiful you are!

Your beyes are like doves.”

16 “1, 2How handsome you are, amy beloved,

And so pleasant!

Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!

17 “The beams of our houses are acedars,

Our rafters, 1bcypresses.