CANTICO 1

1The Song of Songs, by Solomon.

2Oh, give me of the kisses of your mouth, For your love is more delightful than wine.

3Your ointments yield a sweet fragrance,Your name is like finest oil—Therefore do maidens love you.

4Draw me after you, let us run!The king has brought me to his chambers. Let us delight and rejoice in your love,Savoring it more than wine—Like new wine as related to tirosh; cf. Aramaic merath. they love you!

5I am dark—and beautiful—O daughters of Jerusalem:Like the tents of Kedar,Like the pavilions of Solomon.

6Don’t stare at me because I’m so dark,Because the sun has gazed upon me.My mother’s sons quarreled with me,They made me guard the vineyards;My own vineyard I did not guard.

7Tell me, you whom I love so well;Where do you pasture your sheep?Where do you rest them at noon?Let me not be as one who strays Beside the flocks of your fellows.

8If you do not know, O fairest of women,Go follow the tracks of the sheep,And graze your kids By the tents of the shepherds.

9I have likened you, my darling,To a mare in Pharaoh’s chariots:

10Your cheeks are comely with plaited wreaths,Your neck with strings of jewels.

11We will add wreaths of goldTo your spangles of silver.

12While the king was on his couch,My nard gave forth its fragrance.

13My beloved to me is a bag of myrrhLodged between my breasts.

14My beloved to me is a spray of henna bloomsFrom the vineyards of En-gedi.

15Ah, you are fair, my darling,Ah, you are fair,With your dove-like eyes!

16And you, my beloved, are handsome,Beautiful indeed!Our couch is in a bower;

17Cedars are the beams of our house,Cypresses the rafters.