[1] This is Solomon's most beautiful song. [2] She Speaks: Kiss me tenderly! Your love is better than wine, [3] and you smell so sweet. All the young women adore you; the very mention of your name is like spreading perfume. [4] Hurry, my king! Let's hurry. [5] Take me to your home. The Young Women Speak: We are happy for you! And we praise your love even more than wine. She Speaks: Young women of Jerusalem, it is only right that you should adore him. My skin is dark and beautiful, like a tent in the desert or like Solomon's curtains. [6] Don't stare at me just because the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me work in the vineyard, and so I neglected my complexion. Don't let the other shepherds think badly of me. [7] I'm not one of those women who shamelessly follow after shepherds. My darling, I love you! Where do you feed your sheep and let them rest at noon? [8] He Speaks: My dearest, if you don't know, just follow the path of the sheep. Then feed your young goats near the shepherds' tents. [9] You move as gracefully as the pony that leads the chariot of the king. [10] Earrings add to your beauty, and you wear a necklace of precious stones. [11] Let's make you some jewelry of gold, woven with silver. [12] She Speaks: My king, while you were on your couch, my love was a magic charm. [13] My darling, you are perfume between my breasts; [14] you are flower blossoms from the gardens of En-Gedi. [15] He Speaks: My darling, you are lovely, so very lovely- your eyes are those of a dove. [16] She Speaks: My love, you are handsome, truly handsome- the fresh green grass will be our wedding bed [17] in the shade of cedar and cypress trees.
