Song of Solomon 1

The Young Shulammite Bride and Jerusalem’s Daughters

1 The [a]Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.

2 “[b]May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine.
3 “Your oils have a pleasing fragrance,
Your name is like [c]purified oil;
Therefore the [d]maidens love you.
4 “Draw me after you and let us run together!
The king has brought me into his chambers.”

“[e]We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will [f]extol your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.”

5 “[g]I am black but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
6 “Do not stare at me because I am [h]swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
7 “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,
Where do you pasture your flock,
Where do you make it lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who [i]veils herself
Beside the flocks of your companions?”

Solomon, the Lover, Speaks

8 “[j]If you yourself do not know,
Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds.

9 “[k]To me, my darling, you are like
My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of beads.”

11 “[l]We will make for you ornaments of gold
With beads of silver.”

12 “[m]While the king was at his [n]table,
My [o]perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13 “My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts.
14 “My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
In the vineyards of Engedi.”

15 “[p][q]How beautiful you are, my darling,
[r]How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves.”

16 “[s][t]How handsome you are, my beloved,
And so pleasant!
Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!
17 “The beams of our houses are cedars,
Our rafters, [u]cypresses.