Song Of Solomon 1
NASB — New American Standard Bible (NASB)
MSG — The Message Bible (MSG)
Verse 1
The [a]Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
The Song—best of all songs—Solomon’s song!
The Woman
Verse 2
Kiss me—full on the mouth!
Yes! For your love is better than wine,
headier than your aromatic oils.
The syllables of your name murmur like a meadow brook.
No wonder everyone loves to say your name!
Yes! For your love is better than wine,
headier than your aromatic oils.
The syllables of your name murmur like a meadow brook.
No wonder everyone loves to say your name!
Verse 3
“Your oils have a pleasing fragrance,
Your name is like [c]purified oil;
Therefore the [d]maidens love you.
Your name is like [c]purified oil;
Therefore the [d]maidens love you.
— not in MSG
Verse 4
“Draw me after you and let us run together!
The king has brought me into his chambers.”
The king has brought me into his chambers.”
“[e]We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will [f]extol your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.”
Take me away with you! Let’s run off together!
An elopement with my King-Lover!
We’ll celebrate, we’ll sing,
we’ll make great music.
Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine.
Everyone loves you—of course! And why not?
An elopement with my King-Lover!
We’ll celebrate, we’ll sing,
we’ll make great music.
Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine.
Everyone loves you—of course! And why not?
Verse 5
“[g]I am black but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
I am weathered but still elegant,
oh, dear sisters in Jerusalem,
Weather-darkened like Kedar desert tents,
time-softened like Solomon’s Temple hangings.
Don’t look down on me because I’m dark,
darkened by the sun’s harsh rays.
My brothers ridiculed me and sent me to work in the fields.
They made me care for the face of the earth,
but I had no time to care for my own face.
oh, dear sisters in Jerusalem,
Weather-darkened like Kedar desert tents,
time-softened like Solomon’s Temple hangings.
Don’t look down on me because I’m dark,
darkened by the sun’s harsh rays.
My brothers ridiculed me and sent me to work in the fields.
They made me care for the face of the earth,
but I had no time to care for my own face.
Verse 6
“Do not stare at me because I am [h]swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
For the sun has burned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
— not in MSG
Verse 7
“Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,
Where do you pasture your flock,
Where do you make it lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who [i]veils herself
Beside the flocks of your companions?”
Where do you pasture your flock,
Where do you make it lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who [i]veils herself
Beside the flocks of your companions?”
Solomon, the Lover, Speaks
Tell me where you’re working
—I love you so much—
Tell me where you’re tending your flocks,
where you let them rest at noontime.
Why should I be the one left out,
outside the orbit of your tender care?
—I love you so much—
Tell me where you’re tending your flocks,
where you let them rest at noontime.
Why should I be the one left out,
outside the orbit of your tender care?
The Man
Verse 8
“[j]If you yourself do not know,
Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds.
Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds.
If you can’t find me, loveliest of all women,
it’s all right. Stay with your flocks.
Lead your lambs to good pasture.
Stay with your shepherd neighbors.
it’s all right. Stay with your flocks.
Lead your lambs to good pasture.
Stay with your shepherd neighbors.
Verse 9
You remind me of Pharaoh’s
well-groomed and satiny mares.
Pendant earrings line the elegance of your cheeks;
strands of jewels illumine the curve of your throat.
I’m making jewelry for you, gold and silver jewelry
that will mark and accent your beauty.
well-groomed and satiny mares.
Pendant earrings line the elegance of your cheeks;
strands of jewels illumine the curve of your throat.
I’m making jewelry for you, gold and silver jewelry
that will mark and accent your beauty.
The Woman
Verse 10
“Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of beads.”
Your neck with strings of beads.”
— not in MSG
Verse 12
When my King-Lover lay down beside me,
my fragrance filled the room.
His head resting between my breasts—
the head of my lover was a sachet of sweet myrrh.
My beloved is a bouquet of wildflowers
picked just for me from the fields of Engedi.
my fragrance filled the room.
His head resting between my breasts—
the head of my lover was a sachet of sweet myrrh.
My beloved is a bouquet of wildflowers
picked just for me from the fields of Engedi.
The Man
Verse 13
“My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts.
Which lies all night between my breasts.
— not in MSG
Verse 14
“My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
In the vineyards of Engedi.”
In the vineyards of Engedi.”
— not in MSG
Verse 15
Oh, my dear friend! You’re so beautiful!
And your eyes so beautiful—like doves!
And your eyes so beautiful—like doves!
The Woman
Verse 17
“The beams of our houses are cedars,
Our rafters, [u]cypresses.
Our rafters, [u]cypresses.
— not in MSG