1 This is Solomon'smost beautiful song.
2 Kiss me tenderly!Your love is better than wine,
3 and you smell so sweet.All the young women adore you;the very mention of your nameis like spreading perfume.*
4 Hurry, my king! Let's hurry.Take me to your home.We are happy for you!And we praise your loveeven more than wine.Young women of Jerusalem,it is only rightthat you should adore him.
5 My skin is dark and beautiful,like a tent in the desertor like Solomon's curtains.
6 Don't stare at mejust because the sunhas darkened my skin.My brothers were angry with me;they made me work in the vineyard,and so I neglectedmy complexion.
7 My darling, I love you!Where do you feed your sheepand let them rest at noon?Don't let the other shepherdsthink badly of me.I'm not one of those womenwho shamelessly followafter shepherds.
8 My dearest, if you don't know,just follow the pathof the sheep.Then feed your young goatsnear the shepherds' tents.
9 You move as gracefullyas the pony that leadsthe chariot of the king.
10 Earrings add to your beauty,and you wear a necklaceof precious stones.
11 Let's make you some jewelryof gold, woven with silver.
12 My king, while youwere on your couch,my aroma was a magic charm.
13 My darling, you are perfumebetween my breasts;
14 you are flower blossomsfrom the gardens of En-Gedi.
15 My darling, you are lovely,so very lovely—your eyes are those of a dove.
16 My love, you are handsome,truly handsome—the fresh green grasswill be our wedding bed
17 in the shade of cedarand cypress trees.