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The Song of Solomon

THE SONG OF SOLOMON.

CHAPTER I

Anglican version.	Vulgate, catholic.
1. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy love is better than wine.	1. Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth; for thy breasts are better than wine,
3. Because of the savor of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.	2. And more fragrant than the choicest ointments. Thy name is as oil poured forth; therefore have the virgins loved thee.
4. Draw me, we will run after thee, the King hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine; the upright love thee.	3. Draw me, we will run after thee to the odor of thine ointments. The King hath brought me into his storechambers; we will exult and be glad in thee, remembering thy breasts are better than wine, the upright love thee.
5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.	4. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6. Look not upon me because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me; my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.	5. Look not upon me because I am dark-colored, because the sun hath tanned me; my mother’s children strove against me; they made me keeper in the vineyards; mine own vineyard have I not kept.
10 7. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon; for why should I be as one that is turned aside by the flocks of thy companions?	6. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou reposest at mid-day, lest I should begin to wander after the flocks of thy companions.
8. If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.	7. If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
9. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.	8. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horsemen in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.	9. Thy cheeks are comely as a turtledove’s; thy neck as jewels.
11. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.	10. We will make thee chains of gold inlaid with silver.
12. While the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.	11. While the King was reclining upon his couch, my spikenard sent forth the smell thereof.
13. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.	12. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall abide between my breasts.
14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire, in the vineyards of Engedi.	13. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of cypress, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
15. Behold, thou art fair, my love, behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.	14. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.
16. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; also our bed is green.	15. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, and comely; our bed is adorned with flowers.
17. The beams of our house are cedar and our rafters of fir.	16. The beams of our houses are of cedar and our carved ceilings are of cypress.

CHAPTER II.

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
1. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.	1. I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys.
2. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.	2. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.	3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under the shadow of him whom I desired, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4. He brought me into the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.	4. He brought me into the wine cellars and set love in order within me.
5. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love.	5. Stay me with flowers, strew me with apples; for I am sick of love.
6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.	6. His left hand is under my head and his right hand shall embrace me.
7. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till she please.	7. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till she please.
8. The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.	8. The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
9. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold he standeth behind our wall; he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice.
10. My beloved spake and said unto me: Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.	10. Behold, my beloved speaketh to me and saith: Rise up my love, my dove, my fair one, and come.
11. For lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;	12. The flowers have appeared on the earth; the pruning time is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13. 12 The figtree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, come away.	13. The figtree hath put forth her green figs, and the flowering vines give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, come.
14. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret of the stairs, Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.	14. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow of the wall, shew me thy countenance and let thy voice sound in mine ears; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.	15. Take us the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vine is in blossom.
16. My beloved is mine and I am his; he feedeth among the lilies.
17. Until the day break and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

CHAPTER III.

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
1. By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not.
2. I will arise now and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4. It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.	4. It was but a little that I passed by them when I found him whom my soul loveth. I held him: neither will I let him go until I bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5. 13 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he please.	5. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the hinds of the fields, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till she please.
6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant?	6. Who is she that goeth up by the wilderness, like a pillar of smoke from the incense of myrrh and frankincense and all powders of the perfumer?
7. Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
8. They all hold swords, being expert in war; every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
9. King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
10. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem.	10. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the couch of gold, the ascent thereto of purple; and the midst thereof he strewed with love for the daughters of Jerusalem.
11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

CHAPTER IV.

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
1. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks; thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from mount Gilead.	1. How beautiful thou art, my love; how beautiful thou art! Thou hast doves’ eyes, besides what is hid within; thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from mount Gilead.
2. 14 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing, whereof every one bears twins, and none is barren among them.
3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely; thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.	3. Thy lips are as a scarlet fillet; and thy speech is sweet Thy cheeks are like a piece of pomegranate, besides that which is hidden within.
4. Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an armory, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.	4. Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded with bulwarks; a thousand shields hang upon it, all the armor of mighty men.
5. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6. Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
7. Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee.
8. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon; look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions dens, from the mountains of the leopards.	8. Come from Lebanon, my spouse, come from Lebanon, come; thou shalt be crowned from the top of Amana, from the peak of Shenir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.	9. Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister spouse; thou hast wounded my heart with one of thine eyes and with one tress of thy neck.
10. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!	10. How fair are thy breasts, my sister spouse! thy breasts are fairer than wine, and the smell of thine ointments than all spices.
11. Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12. 15 A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.	12. A garden enclosed is my sister spouse; a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed.
13. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphor with spikenard;	13. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard.
14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes with all the chief spices.	14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with all the trees of Lebanon; myrrh, and aloes with all the chief ointments.
15. A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters and streams from Lebanon.	15. A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams flowing strongly from Lebanon.
16. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits.	16. Arise, O north wind, and come, thou south, blow through my garden and let its spices flow out.

CHAPTER V.

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
1. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk; eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.	1. Let my beloved come into his garden and eat the fruit of his appletrees. I am come into my garden, my sister spouse; I have gathered my myrrhs with my spices; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk; eat, O friends, drink and be drunken, O dearly beloved.
2. I sleep, but my heart waketh; it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
3. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
4. 16 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.	4. My beloved put in his hand through the opening, and my bowels thrilled at his touch.
5. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.	5. I rose up to open to my beloved; my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers were bathed with the choicest myrrh.
6. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone; my soul failed when he spake; I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.	6. I withdrew the bolt of my door for my beloved; but he had turned aside and was gone. My soul melted when he spake; I sought him, and found him not; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him that I am sick of love.
9. What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women! what is thy beloved, more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
11. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy and black as a raven.	11. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks as the clusters of the palm, black as a raven.
12. His eyes are as the eyes of doves, by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.	12. His eyes are like a dove’s by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and sitting beside overflowing streams.
13. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers; his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.	13. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, prepared by the perfumers; his lips like lilies, dropping choice myrrh.
14. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl, his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.	14. His hands are turned as of gold, set with hyacinths; his belly is ivory set with sapphires.
15. 17 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold; his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.	15.
16. His mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.	16. His throat is most sweet, etc.

CHAPTER VI.

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
1. Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
2. My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies.	1.
3. I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.	2.
4. Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.	3. Thou art beautiful, O my love, sweet and comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army set in array.
5. Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me; thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.	4. Turn away thine eyes from me, because they have made me to flee away; thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.
6. Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.	5.
7. As a piece of pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.	6. As the rind of a pomegranate are thy cheeks, besides that which is hidden within.
8. There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.	7.
9. 18 My dove, my undefiled, is but one, she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her and blessed her, yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.	8.
10. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?	9. Who is she that cometh forth as the rising morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army in battle array?
11. I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded.	10.
12. Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Aminadib.	11. I know nothing, my soul troubled me on account of the chariots of Aminadab.
13. Return, return, O Shulamite! return, return, that we may look upon thee.	12. Return, return, O Shulamite! return, return that we may look upon thee.
What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

CHAPTER VII

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
	1. What will ye see in the Shulamite, but the companies of camps?
1. How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels the work of the hands of a cunning workman.	How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
2. Thy navel is like a round goblet which wanteth not liquor, thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies.	2.
3. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.	3.
4. 19 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory, thine eyes like the fish-pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim; thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looked toward Damascus.	4. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fish-pools in Heshbon, which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude, thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
5. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel; and the hair of thine head like purple, the King is held in the galleries.	5. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thy head like the King’s purple, bound by the channels.
6. How fair and how pleasant art thou, O Love, for delights!	6.
7. This thy stature is like to a palm tree and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.	7.
8. I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof; now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;	8. I said, I will go up to the palm-tree, and I will take hold of the fruit thereof; and thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy mouth like that of apples.
9. And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.	9. Thy throat is like the best wine fit for my beloved to drink, and to be dwelt upon with delight by his lips and teeth.
10. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is towards me.	10.
11. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.	11.
12. Let us get up early to the vineyard; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth; there will I give thee my loves.	12. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, if the flowers bring forth fruit, and the pomegranate has blossomed; there will I give thee my breasts.
13. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.	13.

CHAPTER VIII.

Anglican version.	Vulgate.
1. O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee, yet I should not be despised.	1. Who will give thee to me for a brother, sucking the breasts of my mother? that I might find thee without and kiss thee, and yet not be despised?
2. I would lead thee and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranates.	2. I will lay hold upon thee and bring thee into my mother’s house; there thou shalt teach me, and I will give thee a bowl of spiced wine, and new wine of my pomegranates.
3. His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.	3.
4. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.	4. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until she please.
5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the appletree; there thy mother brought thee forth; there she brought thee forth that bare thee.	5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, replete with delights, leaning upon the arm of her beloved? I raised thee up under the appletree; there thy mother was corrupted, there was she deflowered, that brought thee forth.
6. Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame.	6. Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as hell; the lights thereof are lights of fire and flames.
7. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.	7.
8. We have a little sister and she hath no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?	8.
9. 21 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver; and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.	9. If she be a wall, we will build upon it bulwarks of silver; if she be a door, we will frame it with boards of cedar.
10. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; then was I in his eyes as one that found favor.	10.
11. Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamoh; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.	11. The peaceable had a vineyard in that which hath people; he delivered it to keepers, each one brings for the fruit thereof a thousand pieces of silver.
12. My vineyard which is mine is before me; thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.	12. My vineyard is before me. Thou, O peaceable, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice; cause me to hear it.	13.
14. Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.	14. Flee away, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

The Song of Solomon