New Living Translation

1 This is Solomon’s song of songs, more wonderful than any other. 2 Kiss me and kiss me again,<br>for your love is sweeter than wine.<br> 3 How pleasing is your fragrance;<br>your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils.<br>No wonder all the young women love you!<br> 4 Take me with you; come, let’s run!<br>The king has brought me into his bedroom. <b>Young Women of Jerusalem</b><br> How happy we are for you, O king.<br>We praise your love even more than wine. <b>Young Woman</b><br> How right they are to adore you.<br> 5 I am dark but beautiful,<br>O women of Jerusalem —<br>dark as the tents of Kedar,<br>dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents.<br> 6 Don’t stare at me because I am dark —<br>the sun has darkened my skin.<br>My brothers were angry with me;<br>they forced me to care for their vineyards,<br>so I couldn’t care for myself — my own vineyard.<br> 7 Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today?<br>Where will you rest your sheep at noon?<br>For why should I wander like a prostitute<br>among your friends and their flocks?<br> 8 If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman,<br>follow the trail of my flock,<br>and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents.<br> 9 You are as exciting, my darling,<br>as a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.<br> 10 How lovely are your cheeks;<br>your earrings set them afire!<br>How lovely is your neck,<br>enhanced by a string of jewels.<br> 11 We will make for you earrings of gold<br>and beads of silver.<br> 12 The king is lying on his couch,<br>enchanted by the fragrance of my perfume.<br> 13 My lover is like a sachet of myrrh<br>lying between my breasts.<br> 14 He is like a bouquet of sweet henna blossoms<br>from the vineyards of En-gedi.<br> 15 How beautiful you are, my darling,<br>how beautiful!<br>Your eyes are like doves.<br> 16 You are so handsome, my love,<br>pleasing beyond words!<br>The soft grass is our bed;<br> 17 fragrant cedar branches are the beams of our house,<br>and pleasant smelling firs are the rafters.<br>