Expressions of Praise
7 How graceful are your feet in sandals,
O queenly maiden!
Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
the work of a master hand.(A)
2 Your navel is a rounded bowl;
may it never lack mixed wine.
Your belly is a heap of wheat,
encircled with lilies.
3 Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.(B)
4 Your neck is like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are pools in Heshbon,
by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon,
overlooking Damascus.(C)
5 Your head crowns you like Carmel,
and your flowing locks are like purple;
a king is held captive in the tresses.(D)
6 How fair and pleasant you are,
O loved one, delectable maiden
7 You are stately[b] as a palm tree,
and your breasts are like its clusters.
8 I said, “I will climb the palm tree
and lay hold of its branches.”
O may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
and the scent of your breath like apples,(F)
9 and your kisses[c] like the best wine
that goes down[d] smoothly,
gliding over lips and teeth.[e]
10 I am my beloved’s,
and his desire is for me.(G)
11 Come, my beloved,
let us go forth into the fields
and lodge in the villages;
12 let us go out early to the vineyards;
let us see whether the vines have budded,
whether the grape blossoms have opened
and the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.(H)
13 The mandrakes give forth fragrance,
and over our doors are all choice fruits,
new as well as old,
which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.(I)
Footnotes
- 7.6Syr: Heb in delights
- 7.7Heb This your stature is
- 7.9Heb palate
- 7.9Heb to my lover
- 7.9Gk Syr Vg: Heb lips of sleepers