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Song of Songs 1

The Shulammite Bride’s Desire

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
2
“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 purified oil;
Therefore the maidens love you.
4
Draw me after you and let us run together!
The king has brought me into his chambers.”
“We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will extol your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.”

5
“I am black but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
6
Do not look at me because I am 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 shepherd your flock,
Where do you make it lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who veils herself
Beside the flocks of your companions?”

Solomon and His Bride Extol Each Other

8
“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 dwellings of the shepherds.

9
“To a mare of mine among the chariots of Pharaoh
I compare you, O my darling.
10
Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of beads.”

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

12
“While the king was at his banqueting table,
My 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
“Behold, you are beautiful, my darling,
Behold, you are beautiful!
Your eyes are like doves.”

16
“Behold, you are handsome, my beloved,
Indeed, so pleasant!
Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!
17
The beams of our houses are cedars,
Our rafters, cypresses.