W*

2a Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth,

for your love is better than wine,*

3better than the fragrance of your perfumes.*

Your name is a flowing perfume—

therefore young women love you.

4b Draw me after you! Let us run!*

The king has brought me to his bed chambers.

Let us exult and rejoice in you;

let us celebrate your love: it is beyond wine!

Rightly do they love you!

W

5I am black and beautiful,

Daughters of Jerusalem*—

Like the tents of Qedar,

like the curtains of Solomon.

6Do not stare at me because I am so black,*

because the sun has burned me.

The sons of my mother were angry with me;

they charged me with the care of the vineyards:

my own vineyard I did not take care of.

W

7Tell me, you whom my soul loves,

where you shepherd,* where you give rest at midday.

Why should I be like one wandering

after the flocks of your companions?

M

8If you do not know,

most beautiful among women,

Follow the tracks of the flock

and pasture your lambs*

near the shepherds’ tents.

M

9To a mare among Pharaoh’s chariotry*

I compare you, my friend:

10Your cheeks lovely in pendants,

your neck in jewels.

11We will make pendants of gold for you,

and ornaments of silver.

W

12While the king was upon his couch,

my spikenard* gave forth its fragrance.

13My lover* is to me a sachet of myrrh;

between my breasts he lies.

14My lover is to me a cluster of henna*

from the vineyards of En-gedi.

Mc

15How beautiful you are, my friend,

how beautiful! your eyes are doves!*

W

16How beautiful you are, my lover—

handsome indeed!

Verdant indeed is our couch;*

17the beams of our house are cedars,

our rafters, cypresses.