Song of Songs 1:1-6

1The Song of Songs [the best of songs], which is Solomon’s.

2“May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” [Solomon arrives, she turns to him, saying,] “For your love is better than wine.

3The aroma of your oils is fragrant and pleasing; Your name is perfume poured out; Therefore the maidens love you.

4Draw me away with you and let us run together! Let the king bring me into his chambers.” “We will rejoice and be glad in you; We will remember and extol your love more [sweet and fragrant] than wine. Rightly do they love you.”

5“I am deeply tanned but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, [I am dark] like the tents of [the Bedouins of] Kedar, Like the [beautiful] curtains of Solomon.

6Do not gaze at me because I am deeply tanned, [I have worked in] the sun; it has left its mark on me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard (my complexion) I have not kept.”