Song of Solomon 1 WBT
Summary: The woman (the Shulammite) opens the poem longing for her beloved's kisses, praising his love as "better than wine" (v. 2), and explaining self-consciously that she is "black but beautiful," darkened by the sun because her brothers made her keep the vineyards. She asks where he pastures his flock so she can find him; the daughters of Jerusalem and the man's voice answer, comparing her to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots and praising her cheeks and neck adorned with jewels. She replies that while the king was at his table her perfume filled the air, calling him a sachet of myrrh and a cluster of henna blossoms; the two exchange admiring praise of each other's eyes, and the chapter closes with them together beneath a leafy, cedar-beamed couch.
1The song of songs, which [is] Solomon's.
2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.
3Because of the savor of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4Draw 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.
5I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6Look 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] my own vineyard have I not kept.
7Tell 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?
8If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents.
9I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10Thy cheeks are comely with rows [of jewels], thy neck with chains [of gold].
11We will make for thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its smell.
13A bundle of myrrh [is] my well beloved to me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14My beloved [is] to me [as] a cluster of camphor in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes.
16Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yes, pleasant: also our bed [is] green.
17The beams of our house [are] cedar, [and] our rafters of fir.
Also read this chapter in: KJV, WEB, ASV, WYC, GNV, DBY, YLT