Song of Songs 1

1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.  * 1:1 1Kg 4:32

Woman

2 Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your caresses  * 1:2 Or acts of love are more delightful than wine.  * 1:2 Sg 4:10

3 The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating;  * 1:3 Jn 12:3

your name is perfume poured out.  * 1:3 Ec 7:1

No wonder young women  * 1:3 Or wonder virgins adore you.

4 Take me with you  * 1:4 Hs 11:4  — let’s hurry.

Oh, that the king would bring  * 1:4 Or The king has brought me to his chambers.

Young Women

We will rejoice and be glad in you;

we will celebrate your caresses more than wine.

Woman

It is only right that they adore you.

5 Daughters of Jerusalem,  * 1:5 Sg 2:7; 3:5,10; 5:8,16; 8:4

I am dark like the tents of Kedar,  * 1:5 Ps 120:5; Is 60:7

yet lovely  * 1:5 Sg 2:14; 4:3; 6:4 like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not stare at me because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed on me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;  * 1:6 Ps 69:8

they made me take care of the vineyards.  * 1:6 Sg 8:11

I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

7 Tell me, you whom I love:  * 1:7 Sg 3:1–4

Where do you pasture your sheep?  * 1:7 Sg 2:16; 6:3

Where do you let them rest at noon?  * 1:7 Is 13:20; Jr 33:12

Why should I be like one who veils herself  * 1:7 Or who wanders

beside the flocks of your companions?  * 1:7 Sg 8:13

Man # 1:8 Some understand the young women to be the speakers in this verse.

8 If you do not know,

most beautiful of women,  * 1:8 Sg 5:9; 6:1

follow  * 1:8 Lit go out for yourself into the tracks of the flock,

and pasture your young goats

near the shepherds’ tents.

9 I compare you, my darling,  * 1:9 Sg 1:15

to a  * 1:9 Lit my mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.  * 1:9 2Ch 1:16–17

10 Your cheeks are beautiful with jewelry,  * 1:10 Sg 5:13

your neck with its necklace.

11 We will make gold jewelry for you,

accented with silver.

Woman

12 While the king is on his couch,  * 1:12 Or is at his table

my perfume  * 1:12 Lit nard releases its fragrance.  * 1:12 Sg 4:14; Mk 14:3; Jn 12:3

13 The one I love is a sachet of myrrh to me,  * 1:13 Ps 45:8; Jn 19:39

spending the night between my breasts.

14 The one I love is a cluster of henna blossoms to me,  * 1:14 Sg 4:13

in the vineyards of En-gedi.  * 1:14 1Sm 23:29

Man

15 How beautiful you are, my darling.

How very beautiful!

Your eyes are doves.  * 1:15 Sg 4:1

Woman

16 How handsome you are, my love.  * 1:16 Sg 2:3

How delightful!

Our bed is verdant;

17 the beams of our house are cedars,

and our rafters are cypresses.  * 1:17 Or firs, or pines