Chapter 1

  The song of songs, which is Solomon's.  

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  Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.  

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  Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.  

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  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. They love thee uprightly.  

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  I am black, but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.  

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  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 keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.  

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  Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest it to rest at noon; For why should I be as one veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?  

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  If thou know not, thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' booths.  

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  I compare thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.  

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  Thy cheeks are comely with bead-rows, Thy neck with ornamental chains.  

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  We will make thee bead-rows of gold With studs of silver.  

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  While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.  

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  A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.  

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  My beloved is unto me a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of Engedi.  

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  Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are doves.  

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  Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.  

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  The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters are cypresses.  

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