Solomon’s Love for a Shulamite Girl
1 Thesong of songs, whichisSolomon’s.
The Banquet
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
# For your loveisbetter than wine.
3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your nameisointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
4 Draw me away!
# We will run after you.
# The kinghas brought me into his chambers.
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will remember your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.
5 Iamdark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not look upon me, because Iamdark,
Because the sun has tanned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me the keeper of the vineyards,
# Butmy ownvineyard I have not kept.
7 Tell me, O you whom I love,
Where you feedyourflock,
Where you makeitrest at noon.
For why should I be as one who veils herself
By the flocks of your companions?
8 If you do not know,O fairest among women,
Follow in the footsteps of the flock,
And feed your little goats
Beside the shepherds’ tents.
9 I have compared you,my love,
# To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with chainsofgold.
11 We will make you ornaments of gold
With studs of silver.
12 While the kingisat his table,
My spikenard sends forth its fragrance.
13 A bundle of myrrhismy beloved to me,
That lies all night between my breasts.
14 My belovedisto me a cluster of hennablooms
In the vineyards of En Gedi.
15 Behold, youarefair, my love!
Behold, youarefair!
Youhavedove’s eyes.
16 Behold, youarehandsome, my beloved!
Yes, pleasant!
Also our bedisgreen.
17 The beams of our housesarecedar,
Andour rafters of fir.