1 THE song of songs, which is Solomon's, the son of David king of Israel.

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.

3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments your name is like ointment of myrrh, therefore do the virgins love you.

4 Draw me after you, let us run; the king has brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine, and your affections more than the upright.

5 I have dark skin, but I am comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not look at me because I have dark skin, because the sun has tanned me; my mother's sons contended with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard I have not kept.

7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, where did I feed, where did I make my flock to rest at noon? Lest I become like a sheep which has gone astray from your flocks.

8 If you do not know, O you most beautiful among women, come, follow in the footprints of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents.

9 I have compared you, O my beloved, to a mare in Pharaoh's chariot.

10 Your cheeks are comely with braided hair, and your neck with necklaces.

11 We will make for you golden chains with studs of silver.

12 While you are seated with the king upon his cushion, spikenard sends forth its fragrance.

13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me; he shall lie all night between my breasts.

14 My beloved is to me like a cluster of henna flowers in a vineyard of Engad.

15 Behold, you are beautiful, O my beloved; behold, you are fair; you have dove's eyes.

16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yea, pleasant; also our bed is spacious.

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