Song of Songs

738

Song of Songs

1 Solomon’s Most Wonderful Song. Tell me, where do you feed your 1 sheep? The Woman to the Man She Loves Where do you lay them down at 2 Cover me with kisses, noon? for your love is better than wine. {I should come to be with you} 3 Your perfume smells wonderful, or I will be like a hired woman d but your name a is sweeter than the caring for the sheep of your best perfume. friends. That is why the young women love you. He Speaks to Her 4 Take me with you. 8 You are such a beautiful woman. Let’s run away. Surely you know what to do. Go, follow the sheep. The king took me into his room. Feed your young goats near the shepherds’ tents. The Women of Jerusalem to the Man We will rejoice and be happy for you. 9 My darling, you are more exciting to Remember, your love is better than me wine. than any mare among the stallions e With good reason, the young pulling Pharaoh’s chariots.f women love you. 10 Your cheeks are so beautiful with those ornaments hanging She Speaks to the Women beside them. 5 Daughters of Jerusalem, Your neck is so lovely I am dark and beautiful, under that beautiful string of jewels. as black as the tents of Kedar and 11 Let’s make you some more gold Salma.b jewelry and decorate it with silver. 6 Don’t look at how dark I am, at how dark the sun has made me. She Speaks My brothers were angry with me. 12 The smell of my perfume reaches out They forced me to take care of their to the king lying on his couch. vineyards, 13 My lover is like the small bag of myrrh so I could not take care of myself.c {around my neck}, lying all night between my breasts. She Speaks to Him 14 My lover is like a bunch of henna 7 I love you with all my soul! flowers a 1:3 name In Hebrew this word sounds like the word “per- d 1:7 hired woman Or “a woman wearing a veil.” This might fume.” mean a prostitute. b 1:5 Kedar and Salma Arabian tribes. For “Salma” the stan- e 1:9 mare . . . stallions Female and male horses. Only male dard Hebrew text has “Solomon,” but compare “Salma, Salmon” horses were used to pull chariots. in Ruth 4:20–21. f 1:9 Literally, “To a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots I compare c 1:6 myself Literally, “my own vineyard.” you, my darling.”

© 2014 Bible League International Song of Songs 2 | 739 near the vineyards of En Gedi. Here it comes, jumping over the mountains, He Speaks skipping over the hills. 15 My darling, you are so beautiful! 9 My lover is like a gazelle Oh, you are beautiful! or a young deer. Your eyes are like doves. Look at him standing behind our wall, staring out the window, She Speaks looking through the lattice.g 16 You are so handsome, my lover! 10 My lover speaks to me, Yes, and so charming! “Get up, my darling, my beautiful one. a Our bed is so fresh and pleasant. Let’s go away! 17 The beams of our house are cedar. 11 Look, winter is past, The rafters are fir. the rains have come and gone. 12 1 b The flowers are blooming in the fields. I am a rose on the plain of Sharon, It’s time to sing! h a lily c in the valleys. 2 Listen, the doves have returned. 13 He Speaks Young figs are growing on the fig trees. 2 My darling, among other women, Smell the vines in bloom. you are like a lily among thorns! Get up, my darling, my beautiful one. Let’s go away!” She Speaks 3 My lover, among other men, He Speaks you are an apple tree among the 14 My dove, hiding in the caves high on wild trees in the forest! the cliff, hidden here on the mountain, She Speaks to the Women let me see you, I enjoy sitting in my lover’s shadow; let me hear your voice. his fruit is so sweet to my taste. Your voice is so pleasant, 4 My lover took me to the wine house; and you are so beautiful! his intent toward me was love. 5 Strengthen me with raisins d; She Speaks to the Women refresh me with apples, because I 15 Catch the foxes for us— am weak with love.e the little foxes 6 My lover’s left arm is under my head, that spoil the vineyard. and his right arm holds me. Our vineyard is now in bloom.

7 Women of Jerusalem, promise me by 16 My lover is mine, the gazelles and wild deer, and I am his! don’t awaken love, My lover feeds among the lilies, f don’t arouse love, until I am ready. 17 while the day breathes its last breath She Speaks Again and the shadows run away. 8 I hear my lover’s voice. Turn, my lover, a 1:16 fresh and pleasant Or “lush and green” like a fresh field of grass. be like a gazelle or a young deer on b 2:1 rose . . . Sharon Or “a crocus on the plain.” the cleft mountains! i c 2:1 lily A kind of flower. Here, it is probably a red flower. Also in 5:13. g 2:9 lattice A wooden screen over a window. d 2:5 raisins Or “raisin cakes.” h 2:12 sing Or “prune.” e 2:5 I am weak with love Or “I am lovesick.” i 2:17 the cleft mountains Or “the mountains of Bether” or f 2:7 until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.” “the mountains of spice.”

© 2014 Bible League International 740 | song of Songs 3 She Speaks ready for any danger of the night. 1 At night on my bed, 3 I look for the man I love. 9 King Solomon made a traveling chair I looked for him, for himself. but I could not find him. The wood came from Lebanon. 2 I will get up now! 10 The poles were made from silver, I will go around the city. and the supports were made from In the streets and squares, gold. I will look for the man I love. The seat was covered with purple cloth. I looked for him, It was inlaid with love by the but I could not find him. women of Jerusalem. 3 The guards patrolling the city found me. 11 Women of Zion, come out I asked them, “Have you seen the and see King Solomon. man I love?” See the crown f his mother put on him the day he was married, 4 I had just left the guards the day he was so happy! when I found the man I love! I held him and would not let him go, He Speaks to Her 1 while I took him to my mother’s My darling, you are so beautiful! house, 4 Oh, you are beautiful! to the room of one who bore a me. Your eyes are like doves under your veil. She Speaks to the Women Your hair is long and flowing, 5 Women of Jerusalem, promise me like little goats dancing down the by the gazelles and wild deer, slopes of Mount Gilead. don’t awaken love, 2 Your teeth are white like ewes g don’t arouse love, until I am ready.b just coming from their bath. They all give birth to twins; The Women of Jerusalem Speak not one of them has lost a baby. 6 Who is this woman 3 Your lips are like a red silk thread. coming from the desert c Your mouth is beautiful. {with this large group of people}? Your cheeks under your veil The dust rises behind them are like two slices of pomegranate. 4 like clouds of smoke from burning Your neck is long and thin myrrh and frankincense and like David’s tower. h other spices.d That tower was built to be decorated with a thousand shields on its walls, 7 Look, Solomon’s traveling chair.e with the shields of powerful There are 60 soldiers guarding it, soldiers. 5 strong soldiers of Israel. Your breasts are like twin fawns, 8 All of them are trained fighting men like twins of a gazelle, with their swords at their side, feeding among the lilies. 6 I will go to that mountain of myrrh a 3:4 bore Or “taught.” See 8:2. b 3:5 until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.” f 3:11 crown This might be a wreath of flowers he wore on his c 3:6 woman coming from the desert See 8:5. head at his wedding. d 3:6 spices Literally, “powders of the trader.” These were g 4:2 ewes Female goats. imported spices and incense. h 4:4 Your neck . . . decorated Or “Your neck is like David’s e 3:7 traveling chair A kind of chair that the rich traveled in. tower, built with rows of stone.” This would mean she wore These chairs were covered and had poles that slaves used to many necklaces, one above the other, which looked like rows carry them. Also in verse 9. of stone in a tower.

© 2014 Bible League International Song of Songs 5 | 741 and to that hill of frankincense a well of fresh water— while the day breathes its last breath, flowing down from the mountains and the shadows run away. of Lebanon. 7 My darling, you are beautiful all over. Every part of you is perfect. She Speaks 8 Come with me, my bride, from 16 Wake up, north wind. Lebanon. Come, south wind. Come with me from Lebanon. Blow on my garden. Come from the peak of Amana,a Spread its sweet smell. from the top of Senir b and Hermon, Let my lover enter his garden from the lion’s caves, and eat its pleasant fruit. from the mountain of the leopards. 9 My darling,c my bride, you excite me! He Speaks 1 You have stolen my heart with just My darling my bride, I have entered one quick look from your eyes, 5 my garden. with just one of the jewels from I have gathered my myrrh and spice. your necklace. I have eaten my honey and 10 Your love is so beautiful, my darling, honeycomb. my bride! I have drunk my wine and milk. Your love is better than wine. The smell of your perfume The Women Speak to the Lovers is better than any kind of spice! Dearest friends, eat, drink! 11 My bride, your lips drip honey. Be drunk with love! Honey and milk are under your tongue. She Speaks Your clothes smell as sweet as 2 I am asleep, perfume.d but my heart is awake. 12 My darling, my bride, I hear my lover knocking, saying, you are pure like a locked garden. “Open to me, my darling, my love, You are like a locked pool, my dove, my perfect one! a closed fountain. My head is soaked with dew. 13 Your limbs are like a garden My hair is wet with the mist of the filled with pomegranates and other night.” pleasant fruit, with all the best spices: 3 “I have taken off my robe.i e 14 f g henna, nard, saffron, calamus, I don’t want to put it on again. and cinnamon.h I have washed my feet. Your limbs are like a garden I don’t want to get them dirty again.” filled with trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloe. 4 But my lover put his hand through the 15 You are like a garden fountain— opening,j a 4:8 Amana The name of a mountain in Lebanon. and I felt sorry for him.k b 4:8 Senir The Amorite word for “Snow Mountain.” This 5 means Mount Hermon. I got up to open for my lover, c 4:9 darling Literally, “sister.” Also in verses 10, 11; 5:1, 2. myrrh dripping from my hands, d 4:11 perfume Or “Lebanon.” e 4:13–14 henna A plant with sweet-smelling, blue-yellow i 5:3 robe Or “veil,” a piece of cloth used to cover a person’s flowers that grows in clusters (groups) like grapes. face. Also in verse 7. f 4:13–14 saffron A kind of yellow flower used in making j 5:4 put . . . opening Or “pulled his hand from the opening.” perfume. In one sense, this might refer to a lock and key. Some ancient g 4:13–14 calamus A kind of reed plant used in making per- keys were shaped like a hand. The key was inserted through fume. a hole in the door, and the “fingers” fit into special holes that h 4:13–14 cinnamon A kind of plant used as a spice and in allowed the bolt to slide, locking and unlocking the door. making perfume. k 5:4 I felt sorry for him Literally, “My insides stirred for him.”

© 2014 Bible League International 742 | song of Songs 6 myrrh scented lotion dripped from my with sapphires set in it. fingers 15 His legs are like marble pillars onto the handles of the lock. on bases of fine gold. 6 I opened for my lover, He stands tall but my lover had turned away and like the finest cedar tree in was gone! Lebanon! I nearly died 16 Yes, women of Jerusalem, my lover is when he came and went.a everything I desire. I looked for him, His mouth is the sweetest of all. but I couldn’t find him. This is my lover; I called for him, this is my darling. but he didn’t answer me. 7 The guards patrolling the city found The Women of Jerusalem Speak to Her me. 1 Beautiful woman, They hit me. 6 where has your lover gone? They hurt me. Which way did your lover go? The guards on the wall Tell us so that we can help you look took my robe from me. for him.

8 I tell you, women of Jerusalem, She Answers the Women of Jerusalem if you find my lover, tell him I am 2 My lover has gone down to his garden, b weak with love. where sweet-smelling spices grow. There, like a sheep, he will eat the The Women of Jerusalem Answer Her grass, 9 Beautiful woman, and he will enjoy the lilies. how is your lover different from 3 I belong to my lover, and my lover other lovers? belongs to me. Is your lover better than other lovers? He is the one feeding among the Is that why you ask us to make this lilies. promise? He Speaks to Her She Answers the Women of Jerusalem 4 My darling, you are as beautiful as 10 My lover is tanned and radiant. Tirzah,c He would stand out among 10,000 as pleasant as Jerusalem, men. as awesome as the stars in the sky.d 11 His head is like the purest gold. 5 Don’t look at me! His hair is curly and as black as a Your eyes excite me too much! raven. And your hair is long and flowing, 12 His eyes are like doves by a stream, like little goats dancing down the like doves in a pool of milk, like a jewel in its setting. slopes of Mount Gilead. 6 e 13 His cheeks are like a garden of spices, Your teeth are white like ewes like flowers used for perfume. just coming from their bath. His lips are like lilies, They all give birth to twins. dripping with liquid myrrh. Not one of them has lost a baby. 7 14 His arms are like gold rods, Your cheeks under your veil filled with jewels. are like slices of pomegranate. His body is like smooth ivory c 6:4 Tirzah One of the capital cities of northern Israel. d 6:4 the stars in the sky Or “an army ready for war.” The a 5:6 I nearly died . . . went Or “My soul left when he spoke.” meaning of the Hebrew word here and in verse 10 is uncertain. b 5:8 I am weak with love Or “I am lovesick.” e 6:6 ewes Female goats.

© 2014 Bible League International Song of Songs 7 | 743 8 There might be 60 queens The curves of your thighs are like and 80 slave women, jewelry made by an artist. and young women too many to 2 Your navel is like a round cup e; count, may it never be without wine. 9 but there is only one woman for me, Your belly is like a pile of wheat my dove, my perfect one. surrounded by lilies. She is the favorite of her mother, 3 Your breasts are like twin fawns her mother’s favorite child. of a young gazelle. The young women see her and praise 4 Your neck is like an ivory tower. her. Your eyes are like the pools in Even the queens and slave women Heshbon praise her. near the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon The Women Praise Her that looks toward Damascus. 10 Who is that young woman? 5 Your head is like Carmel, She shines out like the dawn. and the hair on your head is like She is as pretty as the moon. silk. She is as bright as the sun. Your long flowing hair She is as awesome captures even a king. as the stars in the sky. 6 You are so beautiful and so pleasant, a lovely, delightful young woman! He Speaks to Her 7 You are tall— 11 I went down to the grove of walnut as tall as a palm tree. trees, And your breasts are like to see the fruit of the valley, the clusters of fruit on that tree. to see if the vines were in bloom, 8 I would love to climb that tree to see if the pomegranates had and take hold of its branches. budded. 12 I was so excited May your breasts be like clusters of when she put me in the royal grapes chariot.a and your fragrance f like apples. 9 May your mouth be like the best wine, The Women of Jerusalem Call to Her flowing straight to my love, 13 Come back, come back, Shulamith b! flowing gently to the sleeper’s lips. Come back, come back, so we may look at you. She Speaks to Him 10 I belong to my lover, Why are you staring at Shulamith, and he wants me. as she dances the Mahanaim 11 Come, my lover, dance c? let’s go out into the field; He Praises Her Beauty let’s spend the night in the villages. 12 1 d Let’s get up early and go to the Princess, your feet are beautiful in those sandals. vineyards. 7 Let’s see if the vines are in bloom. a 6:12 the royal chariot Or “the chariots of my noble people.” See “chariot” in the Word List. Let’s see if the blossoms have opened b 6:13 Shulamith Or “Shulamite.” The word might be the femi- and if the pomegranates are in bloom. nine form of the name “Solomon.” This could mean she was or would become the bride of Solomon. This name might also e 7:2 round cup Or “turned bowl,” a stone bowl made on a mean “perfect,” “at peace,” or “woman from Shunem.” lathe and used for mixing wine before it is poured into cups. c 6:13 Mahanaim dance Or “the victory dance” or “the dance This might also mean a bowl shaped like a crescent or half- of the two camps.” moon. d 7:1 Princess Literally, “Daughter of a prince.” f 7:8 fragrance Literally, “breath of your nose.”

© 2014 Bible League International 744 | song of Songs 8 There I will give you my love. 7 A flood cannot put out love. Rivers cannot drown love. 13 Smell the mandrakes a Would people despise a man for giving and all the pleasant flowers by our everything he owns for love? door. I have saved many pleasant things for Her Brothers Speak you, my lover, 8 We have a little sister, pleasant things, new and old. and her breasts are not yet grown. What should we do for our sister 1 If you were a baby, like my little when a man comes asking to marry 8 brother nursing at his mother’s her? breasts, and if I found you outside, 9 If she were a wall, I could kiss you, we would put silver trim e around her. and no one would say it was wrong. If she were a door, 2 I would lead you into my mother’s we would put a cedar board around house, her. to the room of she who taught me. I would give you spiced wine She Answers Her Brothers squeezed from my pomegranate. 10 I am a wall, She Speaks to the Women and my breasts are my towers. f 3 His left arm is under my head, And he is satisfied with me! and his right hand holds me. He Speaks 11 4 Women of Jerusalem, promise me, Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. don’t awaken love, He put men in charge of the vineyard. don’t arouse love, until I am ready.b Each man brought in grapes worth 1000 shekels g of silver. The Women of Jerusalem Speak 5 Who is this woman 12 Solomon, you can keep your 1000 coming from the desert, leaning on shekels. her lover? Give 200 shekels to each man for the grapes he brought. She Speaks to Him But I will keep my own vineyard. I woke you under the apple tree, where your mother gave birth to you, He Speaks to Her where you were born. 13 There you are, sitting in the garden. 6 Keep me near you like a seal you wear Friends are listening to your voice. over your heart, Let me hear it too! like a signet ring you wear on your hand. She Speaks to Him Love is as strong as death. 14 Hurry, my lover! c Passion is as strong as the grave. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on Its sparks become a flame, the mountains of spice. and it grows to become a great fire d! e 8:9 trim Or “supports.” Often horizontal beams and towers a 7:13 mandrakes Plants with roots that look like people. were built into walls to strengthen and support them. But here, People thought these plants had the power to make people this seems to be a decoration. fall in love. f 8:10 he is satisfied with me Literally, “in his eyes I find b 8:4 until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.” peace.” In Hebrew this is also like the names “Solomon” and c 8:6 the grave Or “Sheol,” the place where dead people go. “Shulamith.” d 8:6 great fire Or “the flame of the Lord.” g 8:11 1000 shekels About 25 pounds (11.5 kg). Also in verse 12.

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