¹ The Song of Songs, which is by Solomon.

² [M.] O that he would kiss me with one of the kisses of his mouth! For thy love is better than wine.

³ Because of the savor of thy precious perfumes, (Thy name is like fragrant oil poured forth,) Therefore do the virgins love thee.

⁴ Draw me after thee; let us run! The king hath led me to his chambers! We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will praise thy love more than wine. Justly do they love thee!

⁵ I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

⁶ Gaze not upon me because I am black, Because the sun hath looked upon me! My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; My vineyard, my own, have I not kept.

⁷ Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou leadest it to rest at noon; For why should I be like a veiled one by the flocks of thy companions?

⁸ [Lad.] If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Trace thou thy way by the tracks of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents!

⁹ [Lov.] To the horses in the chariots of Pharaoh Do I compare thee, my love!

¹⁰ Comely are thy cheeks with rows of jewels, Thy neck with strings of pearls.

¹¹ Golden chains will we make for thee, With studs of silver.

¹² [M.] While the king reclineth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.

¹³ A bunch of myrrh is my beloved to me; He shall abide between my breasts.

¹⁴ My beloved is to me a cluster of henna-flowers From the gardens of Engedi.

¹⁵ [Lov.] Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves.

¹⁶ [M.] Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, lovely; And green is our bed.

¹⁷ The cedars are the beams of our house, And its roof the cypresses.