For thy love is more pleasant than wine,

I am black, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, like as the tents of the Kedarenes, and as the hangings of Solomon: but yet am I fair and well favored withal.

Marvel not at me that I am so black: For why? The sun hath shined upon me. My mother's children had evil will at me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest the sheep, where thou maketh the rest at the noon day: for why shall I be like him that goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions?

There will I tarry for thee, my love, with mine host and with my chariots, which shall be no fewer than Pharaoh's.

Then shall thy cheeks and thy neck be made fair, and hanged with spangles and goodly jewels:

for a bundle of Myrrh is my love unto me; he will lie betwixt my breasts.

O how fair art thou, my love, how fair art thou? Thou hast doves' eyes.

O how fair art thou, my beloved, how well favored art thou? Our bed is decked with flowers,

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. In his shadow was my desire to sit, for his fruit was sweet to my mouth.

Set about me cups of wine, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love.

For now is winter gone and rain departed and past.

Up, haste my love, my dove, in the holes of the rock and secret places of the walls. Show me thy face and let me hear thy voice: for thy voice is sweet and thy fashion beautiful.

Get us the foxes, yea the little foxes that hurt the vines, for our vines bear blossoms.

They hold swords every one, and are expert in war. Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.

the pillars are of silver, the covering of gold, the seat of purple, the ground pleasantly paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem.

O how fair art thou, my love, how fair art thou? Thou hast doves' eyes, beside that which lieth hid within. Thy hairy locks are like the wool of a flock of goats that be shorn on Mount Gilead.

Thou art all fair, O my love, and no spot is there in thee.

O how fair are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse? Thy breasts are more pleasant than wine, and the smell of thine ointments passeth all spices.

As I was asleep, and my heart waking, I heard the voice of my beloved, when he knocked. Open to me, said he, O my sister, my love, my darling, my dove: for my head is full of dew, and my locks of my hair are full of the night drops.

I charge you therefore, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him how that I am sick for love.

As for my loved, he is white and red colored, a singular person among many thousands;

Thou art beautiful, O my love, even as loveliness itself; thou art fair as Jerusalem, glorious as an army of men with their banners.

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have set me on fire! Thy hairy locks are like a flock of goats upon the mount of Gilead.

What is she, this that peepeth out as the morning, fair as the moon, excellent as the sun, glorious as an army of men with their banners?

O how pleasant are thy treadings, with thy shoes, thou prince's daughter? The joint of thy thighs are like a fair jewel, which is wrought by a cunning work master;

O how fair and lovely art thou, my darling, in pleasures?

and thy throat like the best wine. This shall be pure and clear for my love, his lips and teeth shall have their pleasure.

O set me as a seal upon thine heart, and as a seal upon thine arm: for love is mighty as the death, and jealousy as the hell. Her coals are of fire, and a very flame of the LORD:

so that many waters are not able to quench love, neither may the streams drown it. Yea, if a man would give all the good of his house for love, he should count it nothing.

Our sister is but young, and hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister when she shall be spoken for?

Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; this vineyard delivered he unto the keepers, that every one for the fruit thereof should give him a thousand pieces of silver.