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The Song of Solomon

Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 1 -

You are my King

(Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
1
This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.(a)
2
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
3
The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
4
Take me away with youlet us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers.

Do not look down on me!

5
(4) We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine.
6
(4) It is only right that they adore you. (5) I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. (6) Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.

Where are you?

7
Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
8
If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.

You are beautiful!

9
I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10
Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11
We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.
12
While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
14
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15
How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
16
How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
17
The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are fragrant firs.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 Most translators add subheadings for speaker identifications such as The Bride, The Groom, and The Friends based on the gender and number of the Hebrew words.

You are my King

(Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
1
The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.
3
Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.
4
Take me away with you. Let’s hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms.

Do not look down on me!

5
(4) We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine!
6
(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?

7
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?
8
If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherdstents.

You are beautiful!

9
I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10
Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
11
We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.
12
While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
14
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.
15
Behold,(a) you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves.
16
Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.
17
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.