SONG OF SOLOMON
1
The Young Shulammite Bride and Jerusalem’s Daughters
1 The 1Or Best of the SongsSong of A1 Kin 4:32Songs, which is Solomon’s.
 
2 “1BRIDEMay he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your ASong 1:4; 4:10love is better than wine.
3 “Your ASong 4:10; John 12:3oils have a pleasing fragrance,
Your BEccl 7:1name is like 1Lit oil which is emptied (from one vessel to another)purified oil;
Therefore the 2Or virginsCPs 45:14maidens love you.
4 “Draw me after you and let us run together!
The APs 45:14, 15king has brought me into his chambers.”
“1CHORUS
We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will 2Lit mention with praiseextol your BSong 1:4; 4:10love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.”
 
5 “1BRIDEI am black but ASong 2:14; 4:3; 6:4lovely,
O BSong 2:7; 3:5, 10; 5:8, 16; 8:4daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the CPs 120:5tents of DIs 60:7Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
6 “Do not stare at me because I am 1Or blackswarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My APs 69:8mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me BSong 8:11caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
7 “Tell me, O you ASong 3:1-4whom my soul loves,
Where do you BSong 2:16; 6:3pasture your flock,
Where do you make it CIs 13:20; Jer 33:12lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who 1Some versions read wandersveils herself
Beside the flocks of your DSong 8:13companions?”
 
Solomon, the Lover, Speaks
8 “1BRIDEGROOMIf you yourself do not know,
ASong 5:9; 6:1Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds.
 
9 “1Lit I have compared you toTo me, ASong 1:15; 2:2, 10, 13my darling, you are like
My B2 Chr 1:16, 17mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 “Your ASong 5:13cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of BGen 24:53; Is 61:10beads.”
 
11 “1CHORUSWe will make for you ornaments of gold
With beads of silver.”
 
12 “1BRIDEWhile the king was at his 2Or couchtable,
My 3Lit nardASong 4:14; Mark 14:3; John 12:3perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13 “My beloved is to me a pouch of APs 45:8; John 19:39myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts.
14 “My beloved is to me a cluster of ASong 4:13henna blossoms
In the vineyards of B1 Sam 23:29Engedi.”
 
15 “1BRIDEGROOM2Lit BeholdASong 1:16; 2:10, 13; 4:1, 7; 6:4, 10How beautiful you are, my darling,
2Lit BeholdHow beautiful you are!
Your BSong 4:1; 5:12eyes are like doves.”
 
16 “1BRIDE2Lit BeholdHow handsome you are, ASong 2:3, 9, 17; 5:2, 5, 6, 8my beloved,
And so pleasant!
Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!
17 “The beams of our houses are A1 Kin 6:9, 10; Jer 22:14cedars,
Our rafters, 1Or junipersB2 Chr 3:5cypresses.

11:1 Or Best of the Songs

A1:1 1 Kin 4:32

11:2 BRIDE

A1:2 Song 1:4; 4:10

A1:3 Song 4:10; John 12:3

B1:3 Eccl 7:1

11:3 Lit oil which is emptied (from one vessel to another)

21:3 Or virgins

C1:3 Ps 45:14

A1:4 Ps 45:14, 15

11:4 CHORUS

21:4 Lit mention with praise

B1:4 Song 1:4; 4:10

11:5 BRIDE

A1:5 Song 2:14; 4:3; 6:4

B1:5 Song 2:7; 3:5, 10; 5:8, 16; 8:4

C1:5 Ps 120:5

D1:5 Is 60:7

11:6 Or black

A1:6 Ps 69:8

B1:6 Song 8:11

A1:7 Song 3:1-4

B1:7 Song 2:16; 6:3

C1:7 Is 13:20; Jer 33:12

11:7 Some versions read wanders

D1:7 Song 8:13

11:8 BRIDEGROOM

A1:8 Song 5:9; 6:1

11:9 Lit I have compared you to

A1:9 Song 1:15; 2:2, 10, 13

B1:9 2 Chr 1:16, 17

A1:10 Song 5:13

B1:10 Gen 24:53; Is 61:10

11:11 CHORUS

11:12 BRIDE

21:12 Or couch

31:12 Lit nard

A1:12 Song 4:14; Mark 14:3; John 12:3

A1:13 Ps 45:8; John 19:39

A1:14 Song 4:13

B1:14 1 Sam 23:29

11:15 BRIDEGROOM

21:15 Lit Behold

A1:15 Song 1:16; 2:10, 13; 4:1, 7; 6:4, 10

21:15 Lit Behold

B1:15 Song 4:1; 5:12

11:16 BRIDE

21:16 Lit Behold

A1:16 Song 2:3, 9, 17; 5:2, 5, 6, 8

A1:17 1 Kin 6:9, 10; Jer 22:14

11:17 Or junipers

B1:17 2 Chr 3:5

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