[0] Remove vexation from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for
youth and the dawn of life are vanity. [1] The Song of Songs, which is
Solomon's. [2] O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! For
your love is better than wine, [3] your anointing oils are fragrant, your
name is oil poured out; therefore the maidens love you. [4] Draw me after
you, let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will
exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly
do they love you. [5] I am very dark, but comely, O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. [6] Do not gaze at
me because I am swarthy, because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons
were angry with me, they made me keeper of the vineyards; but, my own
vineyard I have not kept! [7] Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you
pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be
like one who wanders beside the flocks of your companions? [8] If you do
not know, O fairest among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and
pasture your kids beside the shepherds' tents. [9] I compare you, my love,
to a mare of Pharaoh's chariots. [10] Your cheeks are comely with
ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels. [11] We will make you
ornaments of gold, studded with silver. [12] While the king was on his
couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance. [13] My beloved is to me a bag of
myrrh, that lies between my breasts. [14] My beloved is to me a cluster of
henna blossoms in the vineyards of Enge'di. [15] Behold, you are beautiful,
my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves. [16] Behold, you
are beautiful, my beloved, truly lovely. Our couch is green; [17] the beams
of our house are cedar, our rafters are pine.