Title
Maiden's Soliloquy
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
2 W(b) Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!For your(c) love is(d) more delightful than wine.(B)
2 Let him kiss me over and over again! Your love is better than wine.
3 Thine oils have a good fragrance. Thy name is oil poured forth. Therefore the virgins love thee.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
3 “Your (C)oils have a pleasing fragrance,Your (D)name is like (c)purified oil;Therefore the (d)(E)maidens love you.
3 The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating;(C)your name is perfume poured out.(D)No wonder young women(e) adore you.
3 The fragrance of your perfumed oil is wonderful. Your name is perfume poured out. Therefore the young women love you.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will make mention of thy love more than of wine. Rightly do they love thee.
4 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.
4 “Draw me after you and let us run together!The (F)king has brought me into his chambers.” “(e)We will rejoice in you and be glad;We will (f)extol your (G)love more than wine.Rightly do they love you.”
4 Take me with you(E)—let us hurry.Oh, that the king would bring(f) me to his chambers.Y We will rejoice and be glad for you;we will praise your love more than wine.W It is only right that they adore you.
4 Take me with you! Let's run away! Let the king bring me into his private chambers. The daughters of Jerusalem will rejoice and be happy for you. We will value your love more than wine. They love you appropriately.
Maiden's Self-Description
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
5 “(g)I am black but (H)lovely,O (I)daughters of Jerusalem,Like the (J)tents of (K)Kedar,Like the curtains of Solomon.
5 Daughters of Jerusalem,(F)I am dark like the tents of Kedar,(G)yet lovely(H) like the curtains of Solomon.
5 The daughters of Jerusalem, I'm dark and lovely like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons were incensed against me. They made me keeper of the vineyards, [but] my own vineyard I have not kept.
6 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.
6 “Do not stare at me because I am (h)swarthy,For the sun has burned me.My (L)mother’s sons were angry with me;They made me (M)caretaker of the vineyards,But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
6 Do not stare at me because I am dark,for the sun has gazed on me.My mother’s sons were angry with me;(I)they made me a keeper of the vineyards.(J)I have not kept my own vineyard.(g)
6 Don't stare at me because I'm dark; the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me. They made me the caretaker of the vineyards, but I didn't take care of my own vineyard.
Dialogue Between Shepherdess And Shepherd
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loves, where thou feed [thy flock], where thou make [it] to rest at noon. For why should I be as she who is veiled beside the flocks of thy companions?
7 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?
7 “Tell me, O you (N)whom my soul loves,Where do you (O)pasture your flock,Where do you make it (P)lie down at noon?For why should I be like one who (i)veils herselfBeside the flocks of your (Q)companions?”
7 Tell me, you, the one I love:(K)Where do you pasture your sheep?(L)Where do you let them rest at noon?(M)Why should I be like one who veils herself(h)(i)beside the flocks of your companions?(N)
7 Tell me, you whom I love, where do you graze your flock? Where do you make your flock lie down at noon? Why should I be considered a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
The Man Speaks To The Woman
8 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.
8 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.
8 “(j)If you yourself do not know,(R)Most beautiful among women,Go forth on the trail of the flockAnd pasture your young goatsBy the tents of the shepherds.
8 M(j) If you do not know,most beautiful of women,(O)follow(k) the tracks of the flock,and pasture your young goatsnear the shepherds’ tents.
8 If you don't know, most beautiful of women, go out after the flock and graze your young goats beside the shepherd's tents.
Man's Poetic Praise Of His Beloved
Maiden's Poetic Praise Of Her Beloved
Mutual Admiration
15 Behold, thou are fair, my love, behold thou are fair. Thine eyes are doves.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
15 “(p)(q)(AA)How beautiful you are, my darling,(r)How beautiful you are!Your (AB)eyes are like doves.”
15 Look at you! You are beautiful, my darling. Look at you! You are so beautiful. Your eyes are doves.