Song of Solomon1

The chapter opens with the Shulamite woman expressing her fervent desire for the king's love, which she finds more delightful than wine, and acknowledging his drawing power. She describes herself as dark-skinned from working in the vineyards but inherently beautiful, then seeks her beloved shepherd. The chapter concludes with the lovers exchanging tender praises, marveling at each other's fairness and the pleasantness of their shared intimacy.

Title and Introduction to the Song

1
Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is better then wine.

The Bride's Yearning for Intimacy

2
Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as an ointment powred out: therefore the virgins loue thee.
3
Drawe me: we will runne after thee: the King hath brought me into his chabers: we will reioyce and be glad in thee: we will remember thy loue more then wine: the righteous do loue thee.
4
I am blacke, O daughters of Ierusalem, but comely, as the tentes of Kedar, and as the curtaines of Salomon.

Self-Awareness and Beauty

5
Regard ye me not because I am blacke: for the sunne hath looked vpon mee. The sonnes of my mother were angry against mee: they made me the keeper of ye vines: but I kept not mine owne vine.
6
Shewe me, O thou, whome my soule loueth, where thou feedest, where thou liest at noone: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the flockes of thy companions?

Seeking the Beloved

7
If thou knowe not, O thou the fairest among women, get thee foorth by the steps of the flocke, and feede thy kiddes by the tents of the shepheards.

Guidance and Reassurance

8
I haue compared thee, O my loue, to the troupe of horses in the charets of Pharaoh.

Praise of the Bride's Beauty

9
Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones, and thy necke with chaines.
10
We will make thee borders of golde with studdes of siluer.
11
Whiles the King was at his repast, my spikenard gaue the smelll thereof.

Mutual Delight and Affection

12
My welbeloued is as a bundle of myrrhe vnto me: he shall lie betweene my breasts.
13
My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi.
14
My loue, beholde, thou art faire: beholde, thou art faire: thine eyes are like the doues.

Mutual Admiration Expressed

15
My welbeloued, beholde, thou art faire and pleasant: also our bed is greene:
16
The beames of our house are cedars, our rafters are of firre.

A Home Built on Love

17
Consolidated into verse 16 by this translation.
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