Song of Solomon 1:5–11

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.

⁶Don’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,

⁸“You are the most beautiful woman of all.

Don’t you know where to find the king?

Follow the tracks the sheep make.

Take care of your young goats

near the tents of the shepherds.”

King Solomon says to the Shulammite woman,

⁹“You are my love.

You are like a mare that pulls one of Pharaoh’s chariots.

¹⁰Your earrings make your cheeks even more beautiful.

Your strings of jewels make your neck even more lovely.”

The other women say to her,

¹¹“We will make gold earrings for you.

We’ll decorate them with silver.”

The woman says,