Song of Songs — Chapter 1

The Song of Songs, byaby Or “concerning.” Solomon.

Oh, give me of the kisses of your mouth,bOh, give me of the kisses of your mouth Heb. “Let him give me of the kisses of his mouth!” For your love is more delightful than wine.

Your ointments yield a sweet fragrance,Your name is like finestcfinest Meaning of Heb. uncertain. oil—Therefore do maidens love you.

Draw me after you, let us run!The king has brought me to his chambers.dThe king has brought me to his chambers Emendation yields “Bring me, O king, to your chambers.” Let us delight and rejoice in your love,Savoring it more than wine—Like new wineenew wine Understanding mesharim as related to tirosh; cf. Aramaic merath. they love you!

I am dark—and beautiful—O daughters of Jerusalem:Like the tents of Kedar,Like the pavilions of Solomon.

Don’t stare at me because I’m so dark,Because the sun has gazed upon me.My mother’s sons quarreled with me,They made me guard the vineyards;My own vineyard I did not guard.

Tell me, you whom I love so well;Where do you pasture your sheep?Where do you rest them at noon?Let me not be as one who straysfas one who strays Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Beside the flocks of your fellows.

If you do not know, O fairest of women,Go follow the tracks of the sheep,And graze your kidsggraze your kids As a pretext for coming. By the tents of the shepherds.

I have likened you, my darling,To a mare in Pharaoh’s chariots:

Your cheeks are comely with plaited wreaths,Your neck with strings of jewels.

We will add wreaths of goldTo your spangles of silver.

While the king was on his couch,My nard gave forth its fragrance.

My beloved to me is a bag of myrrhLodged between my breasts.

My beloved to me is a spray of henna bloomsFrom the vineyards of En-gedi.

Ah, you are fair, my darling,Ah, you are fair,With your dove-like eyes!

And you, my beloved, are handsome,Beautiful indeed!Our couch is in a bower;

Cedars are the beams of our house,Cypresses the rafters.