1 ¶ The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.

2 ¶ Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. Your love is better than wine,

3 Sweeter than the fragrance of your ointments. Your name is like poured out ointment, no wonder the virgins adore you.

4 Take me with you, let us hurry: O that the king would take me to his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine: the upright love you.

5 I am dark, but lovely, O you daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not stare at me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me: my mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but I have not kept my own vineyard.

7 ¶ Tell me, O you whom I love, where are you feeding your flock, where do you make it lie down at noon: why should I be like a veiled woman who wanders by the flocks of your companions?

8 If you do not know, O most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and feed your little goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

9 I have compared you, O my love, to a mare of Pharaoh’s chariots.

10 Your cheeks are lovely with rows of jewels, your neck with chains of gold.

11 We will make you ornaments of gold studded with silver.

12 ¶ While the king sits at his table, my perfume sends out its fragrance.

13 The one I love is like a bag of myrrh; that lies at night between my breasts.

14 My beloved is to me like a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.

15 Oh, you are beautiful, my love; how very beautiful; you have doves’ eyes.

16 How handsome you are, my love, oh, so charming: and our bed is fresh.

17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.