[1] The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. [2] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. [3] Your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is oil poured out; therefore the virgins love you. [4] Draw me after you, let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will remember your love more than wine; rightly do they love you. [5] I am dark, but still lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. [6] Do 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 the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept. [7] Tell 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 by the flocks of your companions? [8] If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. [9] I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots. [10] Lovely are your cheeks with ornaments, your neck with chains of gold. [11] We will make you ornaments of gold, with studs of silver. [12] While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance. [13] My beloved is to me a bundle of myrrh that lies all night between my breasts. [14] My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En Gedi. [15] How fair you are, my love. How fair you are! Your eyes are doves. [16] How fair you are, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Our bed is verdant; [17] the beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
