Song of Solomon 1

The Bride Confesses Her Love

^{verse 1}This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.^a

The Bride

^{verse 2}Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is more delightful than wine.

^{verse 3}The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens adore you.

^{verse 4}Take me away with you— let us hurry!

May the king bring me to his chambers.

The Friends

We will rejoice and delight in you;

we will praise your love more than wine.

The Bride

It is only right that they adore you.

^{verse 5}I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

^{verse 6}Do not stare because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed upon me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me a keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have neglected.

^{verse 7}Tell me, O one I love,

where do you pasture your sheep?

Where do you rest them at midday?

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your companions?

The Friends

^{verse 8}If you do not know, O fairest of women,

follow the tracks of the flock,

and graze your young goats

near the tents of the shepherds.

The Bridegroom

^{verse 9}I compare you, my darling,

to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

^{verse 10}Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments,

your neck with strings of jewels.

The Friends

^{verse 11}We will make you ornaments of gold,

studded with beads of silver.

The Bride

^{verse 12}While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

^{verse 13}My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

^{verse 14}My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

in the vineyards of En-gedi.

The Bridegroom

^{verse 15}How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how very beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves.

The Bride

^{verse 16}How handsome you are, my beloved!

Oh, how delightful!

The soft grass is our bed.

The Bridegroom

^{verse 17}The beams of our house are cedars;

our rafters are fragrant firs.