Canticle of Canticles 1

KING JAMES BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.	1 Bride: "May he kiss me with the kiss of his mouth."
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.	2 Groom to Bride: "So much better than wine are your breasts, fragranced with the finest perfumes."
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.	3 Bride to Groom: "Your name is oil that has been poured out; therefore, the maidens have loved you. Draw me forward."
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.	4 Chorus to Bride: "We will run after you in the odor of your perfumes."
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.	5 Bride to Chorus: "The king has led me into his storerooms."
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.	6 Chorus to Bride: "We will exult and rejoice in you, remembering your breasts above wine."
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 turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?	7 Groom to Bride: "The righteous love you."
8 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.	8 Bride to Chorus: "O daughters of Jerusalem: I am black, but shapely, like the tabernacles of Kedar, like the tents of Solomon."
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.	9 "Do not be concerned that I am dark, for the sun has changed my color."
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.	10 "The sons of my mother have fought against me. They have made me the keeper of the vineyards. My own vineyard I have not kept."
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.	11 Bride to Groom: "Reveal to me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture, where you recline at midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of your companions."
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.	12 Groom to Bride: "If you yourself do not know, O most beautiful among women, then go out and follow after the steps of the flocks, and pasture your young goats beside the tabernacles of the shepherds."
13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.	13 "O my love, I have compared you to my company of horsemen against the chariots of Pharaoh."
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.	14 "Your cheeks are beautiful, like those of a turtledove. Your neck is like a bejeweled collar."
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.	15 Chorus to Bride: "We will fashion for you chains of gold, accented with reddened silver."
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.	16 Groom to Bride: "The timbers of our houses are of cedar; our ceilings are of cypress."
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.