Song of Solomon 1-4
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 1
1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 'May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is sweeter than wine.
3Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the young women love you.
5'I am black and beautiful, You daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.
6Do not stare at me because I am dark, For the sun has tanned 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.
7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, Where do you have it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who veils herself Beside the flocks of your companions?'
8'If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go out on the trail of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds.
9'To me, my darling, you are like My mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.
10Your cheeks are delightful with jewelry, Your neck with strings of beads.'
11'We will make for you jewelry of gold With beads of silver.'
12'While the king was at his table, My perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh Which lies all night between my breasts.
14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms In the vineyards of Engedi.'
15'How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.'
16'How handsome you are, my beloved, And so delightful! Indeed, our bed is luxuriant!
17The beams of our house are cedars, Our rafters, junipers.
Chapter 2
1'I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys.' 2'Like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the young women.' 3'Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love. 5Refresh me with raisin cakes, Sustain me with apples, Because I am lovesick. 6His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.' 7'Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, That you will not disturb or awaken my love Until she pleases.' 8'Listen! My beloved! Behold, he is coming, Leaping on the mountains, Jumping on the hills! 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is peering through the lattice. 10'My beloved responded and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along. 11For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 12The blossoms have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. 13The fig tree has ripened its fruit, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!’?' 14'My dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding place of the mountain pathway, Let me see how you look, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is pleasant, And you look delightful.' 15'Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.' 16'My beloved is mine, and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies. 17Until the cool of the day, when the shadows flee, Turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle Or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.'Chapter 3
1'On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him. 2‘ I must arise now and go around in the city; In the streets and in the public squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but did not find him. 3The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ 4Hardly had I left them When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the room of her who conceived me.' 5'Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, That you will not disturb or awaken my love Until she pleases.' 6'What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the scented powders of the merchant? 7Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon; Sixty warriors around it, Of the warriors of Israel. 8All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, Guarding against the terrors of the night. 9King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon. 10He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold And its seat of purple fabric, With its interior lovingly inlaid By the daughters of Jerusalem. 11Go out, you daughters of Zion, And look at King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of the joy of his heart.'Chapter 4
1'How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep Which have come up from their watering place, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young. 3Your lips are like a scarlet thread, And your mouth is beautiful. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate Behind your veil. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with layers of stones On which are hung a thousand shields, All the round shields of the warriors. 5Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle That graze among the lilies. 6Until the cool of the day When the shadows flee, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense. 7'You are altogether beautiful, my darling, And there is no blemish on you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, You shall come with me from Lebanon. You shall come down from the summit of Amana, From the summit of Senir and Hermon, From the dens of lions, From the mountains of leopards. 9You have enchanted my heart, my sister, my bride; You have enchanted my heart with a single glance of your eyes, With a single strand of your necklace. 10How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much sweeter is your love than wine, And the fragrance of your oils Than that of all kinds of balsam oils! 11Your lips drip honey, my bride; Honey and milk are under your tongue, And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. 12A locked garden is my sister, my bride, A locked spring, a sealed fountain. 13Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates With delicious fruits, henna with nard plants, 14Nard and saffron, spice reed and cinnamon, With all the trees of frankincense, Myrrh, and aloes, along with all the finest balsam oils. 15 You are a garden spring, A well of fresh water, And flowing streams from Lebanon.' 16'Awake, north wind, And come, wind of the south; Make my garden breathe out fragrance, May its balsam oils flow. May my beloved come into his garden And eat its delicious fruits!'King James Version
Chapter 1
1The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
Chapter 2
1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
17Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
Chapter 3
1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 2I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 3The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 4It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 5I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
7Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
8They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
9King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
10He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
11Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
Chapter 4
1Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. 2Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. 3Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. 4Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. 5Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. 6Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. 7Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
8Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
9Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
10How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
11Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 1
1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. 2Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your caresses are more delightful than wine. 3The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating; your name is perfume poured out. No wonder young women adore you.
4Take me with you--let's hurry. Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you; we will celebrate your caresses more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
5Daughters of Jerusalem, I am dark like the tents of Kedar, yet lovely like the curtains of Solomon.
6Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has gazed on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me take care of the vineyards. I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
7Tell me, you whom I love: Where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you let them rest at noon? Why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?
8If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats near the shepherds' tents.
9I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.
10Your cheeks are beautiful with jewelry, your neck with its necklace.
11We will make gold jewelry for you, accented with silver.
12While the king is on his couch, my perfume releases its fragrance.
13The one I love is a sachet of myrrh to me, spending the night between my breasts.
14The one I love is a cluster of henna blossoms to me, in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Your eyes are doves.
16How handsome you are, my love. How delightful! Our bed is verdant;
17the beams of our house are cedars, and our rafters are cypresses.
Chapter 2
1I am a wildflower of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. 2Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among the young women. 3Like an apricot tree among the trees of the forest, so is my love among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 4He brought me to the banquet hall, and he looked on me with love. 5Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apricots, for I am lovesick. 6May his left hand be under my head, and his right arm embrace me.
7Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and the wild does of the field, do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time.
8Listen! My love is approaching. Look! Here he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9My love is like a gazelle or a young stag. See, he is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
10My love calls to me: Arise, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one.
11For now the winter is past; the rain has ended and gone away.
12The blossoms appear in the countryside. The time of singing has come, and the turtledove's cooing is heard in our land.
13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines give off their fragrance. Arise, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one.
14My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
15Catch the foxes for us -- the little foxes that ruin the vineyards -- for our vineyards are in bloom.
16My love is mine and I am his; he feeds among the lilies.
17Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn around, my love, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the divided mountains.
Chapter 3
1In my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him. 2I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and the plazas. I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but did not find him. 3The guards who go about the city found me. I asked them, "Have you seen the one I love? " 4I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held on to him and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother's house -- to the chamber of the one who conceived me. 5Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and the wild does of the field, do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time.
6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from every fragrant powder of the merchant?
7Look! Solomon's bed surrounded by sixty warriors from the mighty men of Israel.
8All of them are skilled with swords and trained in warfare. Each has his sword at his side to guard against the terror of the night.
9King Solomon made a carriage for himself with wood from Lebanon.
10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, and its seat of purple. Its interior is inlaid with love by the young women of Jerusalem.
11Go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother placed on him on the day of his wedding -- the day of his heart's rejoicing.
Chapter 4
1How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Behind your veil, your eyes are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from washing, each one bearing twins, and none has lost its young. 3Your lips are like a scarlet cord, and your mouth is lovely. Behind your veil, your brow is like a slice of pomegranate. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, constructed in layers. A thousand shields are hung on it -- all of them shields of warriors. 5Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that feed among the lilies. 6Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will make my way to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.
7You are absolutely beautiful, my darling; there is no imperfection in you.
8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summit of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
9You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride. You have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
10How delightful your caresses are, my sister, my bride. Your caresses are much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any balsam.
11Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12My sister, my bride, you are a locked garden -- a locked garden and a sealed spring.
13Your branches are a paradise of pomegranates with choicest fruits; henna with nard,
14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices.
15You are a garden spring, a well of flowing water streaming from Lebanon.
16Awaken, north wind; come, south wind. Blow on my garden, and spread the fragrance of its spices. Let my love come to his garden and eat its choicest fruits.
New Living Translation
2 Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3How pleasing is your fragrance; your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. No wonder all the young women love you!
5I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem — dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents.
6Don’t stare at me because I am dark — the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards, so I couldn’t care for myself — my own vineyard.
8If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman, follow the trail of my flock, and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents.
9You are as exciting, my darling, as a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.
10How lovely are your cheeks; your earrings set them afire! How lovely is your neck, enhanced by a string of jewels.
11We will make for you earrings of gold and beads of silver.
12The king is lying on his couch, enchanted by the fragrance of my perfume.
13My lover is like a sachet of myrrh lying between my breasts.
14He is like a bouquet of sweet henna blossoms from the vineyards of En-gedi.
16You are so handsome, my love, pleasing beyond words! The soft grass is our bed;
17fragrant cedar branches are the beams of our house, and pleasant smelling firs are the rafters.
3Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men. I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit.
4He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.
5Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
6His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
8Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room.
10My lover said to me, 'Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!
11Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.
12The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
13The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!'
16My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
17Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, return to me, my love, like a gazelle or a young stag on the rugged mountains.
Chapter 3
1One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover. I yearned for him, but he did not come. 2So I said to myself, 'I will get up and roam the city, searching in all its streets and squares. I will search for the one I love.' So I searched everywhere but did not find him. 3The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, 'Have you seen the one I love?' 4Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother’s house, into my mother’s bed, where I had been conceived.
6Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke? Who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense and every kind of spice?
7Look, it is Solomon’s carriage, surrounded by sixty heroic men, the best of Israel’s soldiers.
8They are all skilled swordsmen, experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack in the night.
9King Solomon’s carriage is built of wood imported from Lebanon.
10Its posts are silver, its canopy gold; its cushions are purple. It was decorated with love by the young women of Jerusalem.
Chapter 4
1You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. 2Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin. 3Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. 4Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes. 5Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies. 6Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. 7You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.
9You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace.
10Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices.
11Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Your clothes are scented like the cedars of Lebanon.
12You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.
13Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates with rare spices — henna with nard,
14nard and saffron, fragrant calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, and every other lovely spice.
15You are a garden fountain, a well of fresh water streaming down from Lebanon’s mountains.
English Standard Version
Chapter 1
1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine;
3your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you.
4Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.
5I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!
7Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?
8If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
9I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11We will make for you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.
12While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.
13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts.
14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.
15Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
16Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green;
17the beams of our house are cedar; our rafters are pine.
Chapter 2
1I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. 2As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. 3As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 5Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. 6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! 7I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 8The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. 10My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, 11for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. 12The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. 14O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. 15Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” 16My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. 17Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.Chapter 3
1On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. 2I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. 3The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” 4Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me. 5I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 6What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant? 7Behold, it is the litter of Solomon! Around it are sixty mighty men, some of the mighty men of Israel, 8all of them wearing swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against terror by night. 9King Solomon made himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon. 10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem. 11Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.Chapter 4
1Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. 3Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, built in rows of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. 5Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies. 6Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense. 7You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. 8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. 9You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! 11Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. 12A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. 13Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, 14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices— 15a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon. 16Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.New International Version
Chapter 1
1Solomon's Song of Songs.
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-- for your love is more delightful than wine.
3Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you!
4Take me away with you--let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers. Friends We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. She How right they are to adore you!
5Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon.
6Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect.
7Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?
8If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.
9I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariot horses.
10Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
11We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver.
12While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.
15How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves.
16How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant.
17The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are firs.
Chapter 2
1I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. 2Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women. 3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 4Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. 5Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. 6His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
7Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
8Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
10My beloved spoke and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
11See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
12Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
13The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'
14My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
15Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
16My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.
17Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.
Chapter 3
1All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. 2I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. 3The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. 'Have you seen the one my heart loves?' 4Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me.
5Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?
7Look! It is Solomon's carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel,
8all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.
9King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon.
10Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem,
11come out, and look, you daughters of Zion. Look on King Solomon wearing a crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced.
Chapter 4
1How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone. 3Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, built with courses of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. 5Your breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies. 6Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
7You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions' dens and the mountain haunts of leopards.
9You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
10How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!
11Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
13Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard,
14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
15You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.
16Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.
