1The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.

2O that you1.2 Heb he would kiss me with the kisses of your1.2 Heb his mouth!

For your love is better than wine,

3your anointing oils are fragrant,

your name is oil poured out;

therefore the maidens love you.

4Draw me after you, let us make haste.

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 comely,

O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar,

like the curtains of Solomon.

6Do not gaze at me because I am swarthy,

because the sun has scorched 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 wanders1.7 Gk Syr Vg: Heb is veiled

beside the flocks of your companions?

8If you do not know,

O fairest among women,

follow in the tracks of the flock,

and pasture your kids

beside the shepherds' tents.

9I compare you, my love,

to a mare of Pharaoh's chariots.

10Your cheeks are comely with ornaments,

your neck with strings of jewels.

11We will make 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 bag of myrrh,

that lies between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

in the vineyards of En-ge'di.

15Behold, you are beautiful, my love;

behold, you are beautiful;

your eyes are doves.

16Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved,

truly lovely.

Our couch is green;

17the beams of our house are cedar,

our rafters1.17 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain are pine.