Study Desk

Solomon's Song of Songs.^(a)

She^[a]

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love^(b) is more delightful than wine.^(c)

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;^(d) your name^(e) is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women^(f) love you!

Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.^(g)

Friends

We rejoice and delight^(h) in you^[b]; we will praise your love⁽ⁱ⁾ more than wine.

She

How right they are to adore you!

Dark am I, yet lovely,^(j) daughters of Jerusalem,^(k) dark like the tents of Kedar,^(l) like the tent curtains of Solomon.^[c]

Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards;^(m) my own vineyard I had to neglect.

Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep⁽ⁿ⁾ at midday. Why should I be like a veiled^(o) woman beside the flocks of your friends?

Friends

If you do not know, most beautiful of women,^(p) follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds.

He

I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariot horses.^(q)

Your cheeks^(r) are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.^(s)

We will make you earrings of gold, studded with silver.

She

While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.^(t)

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh^(u) resting between my breasts.

My beloved^(v) is to me a cluster of henna^(w) blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.^(x)

He

How beautiful^(y) you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves.^(z)

She

How handsome you are, my beloved!^(aa) Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant.

He

The beams of our house are cedars;^(ab) our rafters are firs.

She^[a]

I am a rose^[b](a) of Sharon,^(b) a lily^(c) of the valleys.

He

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.

She

Like an apple^[c] tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved^(d) among the young men. I delight^(e) to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.^(f)

Let him lead me to the banquet hall,^(g) and let his banner^(h) over me be love.

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples,⁽ⁱ⁾ for I am faint with love.^(j)

His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.^(k)

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you^(l) by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.^(m)