The Song of Solomon

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 1 -

You are my King

(Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.(a)

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

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.(b)

Do not look down on me!

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

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.

Where are you?

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?(c)

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.

You are beautiful!

I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En–gedi.(d)

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.(e)

Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.(f)

Footnotes

(a)1:2 thy…: Heb. thy loves

(b)1:4 the upright…: or, they love thee uprightly

(d)1:14 camphire: or, cypress

(e)1:15 my love: or, my companion

(f)1:17 rafters: or, galleries

You are my King

(Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.

Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.

Take me away with you. Let’s hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms.

Do not look down on me!

(4) We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine!

(4) They are right to love you. (5) I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains. (6) Don’t stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept my own vineyard.

Where are you?

Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; for why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?

If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

You are beautiful!

I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.

Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.

We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.

While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.

My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.

Behold,(a) you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves.

Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.

The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.

Footnotes

(a)1:15 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.