1 The Song of Songs, the most beautiful of them all, which is Solomon’s.
The First Song
The Woman
2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. 3 Your oils have a pleasing smell. Your name is like oil poured out. So the young women love you. 4 Take me away with you, and let us run together. The king has brought me into his room.
“We will have joy and be glad because of you. We will praise your love more than wine. They are right to love you.
5 “I am dark but beautiful, O people of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 6 Do not look hard at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me, and made me take care of the grape-fields. But I have not taken care of my own grape-field. 7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves. In what field do you feed your flock? Where do your sheep lie down at noon? Why should I need to look for you beside the flocks of your friends?”
King Solomon
8 “If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the path of the flock. And let your young goats eat in the field beside the tents of the shepherds.
9 “To me, my love, you are like my horse among the war-wagons of Pharaoh. 10 Your face is beautiful with the objects you wear, and your neck with the beautiful chain around it. 11 We will make objects of gold and silver for you.”
The Woman
12 “While the king was at his table, my perfume gave out its smell. 13 My loved one is like a jar of perfume to me, who lies all night between my breasts. 14 My loved one is to me like many henna flowers, in the grape-fields of Engedi.”
King Solomon
15 “How beautiful you are, my love! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.”
The Woman
16 “How beautiful you are, my love, and so pleasing! Our bed is green. 17 The pillars of our house are cedars. The pieces on our roof are pine.