1 The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents. 9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots. 10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. 11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. 13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi. 15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes. 16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

1 Die hooglied van Salomo.

2 Laat hy my kus met kusse van sy mond; want u liefde is kosteliker as wyn.

3 U salf is aangenaam van geur, u naam is soos salf wat uitgegiet is; daarom het die jonkvroue u lief.

4 Trek my agter u aan, laat ons gou maak! Die koning het my in sy binnekamers gebring. Ons wil juig en ons in u verheug, ons wil u liefde prys meer as wyn. Met reg het hulle u lief.

5 Ek is bruin gebrand maar lieflik, o dogters van Jerusalem, soos die tente van Kedar, soos die gordyne van Salomo.

6 Moenie na my kyk omdat ek so bruinerig is, omdat die son my verbrand het nie: die seuns van my moeder was toornig op my; hulle het my aangestel as oppasser van die wingerde; my eie wingerd het ek nie opgepas nie.

7 Vertel my tog, my sielsbeminde, waar laat u wei, waar laat u smiddags die vee lê en rus? Want waarom sou ek wees soos een wat haar met 'n sluier toedraai by die kuddes van u metgeselle?

8 As u dit self nie weet nie, mooiste onder die vroue, gaan dan uit op die spore van die skape en laat u bokkies wei by die hutte van die herders.

9 Met die perde voor 'n wa van Farao vergelyk ek u, my vriendin!

10 Lieflik is u wange tussen die kettinkies, u hals in die snoere.

11 Ons sal vir u goue kettinkies maak met silwerknoppe.

12 So lank as die koning aan sy tafel was, het my nardus sy geur gegee.

13 My beminde is vir my 'n bossie mirre wat tussen my borste rus.

14 My beminde is vir my 'n tros henna-blomme in die wingerde van ngedi.

15 Hoe mooi is u tog, my vriendin! Hoe mooi is u tog, u oë is soos duiwe!

16 Hoe mooi is u tog, my beminde, ja lieflik; ook is ons bed in die groenigheid.

17 Die balke van ons huise is seders, ons paneelwerk sipresse.