Study Desk

I got up to open the door for my lover. Myrrh was dripping from my hands and flowing from my fingers, onto the handles of the lock.

I opened the door for my lover, but my lover had left and was gone. When he spoke, he took my breath away. I looked for him, but I could not find him; I called for him, but he did not answer.

Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your lover turn? We will look for him with you.

I went down into the orchard of nut trees to see the blossoms of the valley, to look for buds on the vines, to see if the pomegranate trees had bloomed.

Before I realized it, my desire for you made me feel like a prince in a chariot.

and your mouth like the best wine. Let this wine go down sweetly for my lover; may it flow gently past the lips and teeth.

The mandrake flowers give their sweet smell, and all the best fruits are at our gates. I have saved them for you, my lover, the old delights and the new.

Even much water cannot put out the flame of love; floods cannot drown love. If a man offered everything in his house for love, people would totally reject it.

We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What should we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?

Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He rented the vineyards for others to tend, and everyone who rented had to pay twenty-five pounds of silver for the fruit.

But my own vineyard is mine to give. Solomon, the twenty-five pounds of silver are for you, and five pounds are for those who tend the fruit.

You who live in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice; let me hear it.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Punish those who hurt others. Help the orphans. Stand up for the rights of widows."

Your rulers are rebels and friends of thieves. They all accept money for doing wrong, and they are paid to cheat people. They don't seek justice for the orphans or listen to the widows' needs.

So the Lord God All-Powerful, the Mighty One of Israel, says: "You, my enemies, will not cause me any more trouble. I will pay you back for what you did.

He will settle arguments among the nations and will make decisions for many nations. Then they will make their swords into plows and their spears into hooks for trimming trees. Nations will no longer fight other nations, nor will they train for war anymore.

At that time people will throw away their gold and silver idols, which they made for themselves to worship; they will throw them away to the bats and moles.

The look on their faces shows they are guilty; like the people of Sodom, they are proud of their sin. They don't care who sees it. How terrible it will be for them, because they have brought much trouble on themselves.

Tell those who do what is right that things will go well for them, because they will receive a reward for what they do.

But how terrible it will be for the wicked! They will be punished for all the wrong they have done.