1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.  *

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

For your caresses  * are more delightful than wine.  *

3 The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating;  *

your name is perfume poured out.  *

No wonder young women  * adore you.

4 Take me with you  *  — let’s hurry.

Oh, that the king would bring  * me to his chambers.

We will rejoice and be glad in you;

we will celebrate your caresses more than wine.

It is only right that they adore you.

5 Daughters of Jerusalem,  *

I am dark like the tents of Kedar,  *

yet lovely  * 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;  *

they made me take care of the vineyards.  *

I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

7 Tell me, you whom I love:  *

Where do you pasture your sheep?  *

Where do you let them rest at noon?  *

Why should I be like one who veils herself  *

beside the flocks of your companions?  *

8 If you do not know,

most beautiful of women,  *

follow  * the tracks of the flock,

and pasture your young goats

near the shepherds’ tents.

9 I compare you, my darling,  *

to a  * mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.  *

10 Your cheeks are beautiful with jewelry,  *

your neck with its necklace.

11 We will make gold jewelry for you,

accented with silver.

12 While the king is on his couch,  *

my perfume  * releases its fragrance.  *

13 The one I love is a sachet of myrrh to me,  *

spending the night between my breasts.

14 The one I love is a cluster of henna blossoms to me,  *

in the vineyards of En-gedi.  *

15 How beautiful you are, my darling.

How very beautiful!

Your eyes are doves.  *

16 How handsome you are, my love.  *

How delightful!

Our bed is verdant;

17 the beams of our house are cedars,

and our rafters are cypresses.  *