English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
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The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine;
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Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine,
3 your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you.
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your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is perfume poured out; therefore the maidens love you.
4 Draw me after you; let us run. 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.
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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 lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
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I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!
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Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on 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 veils herself beside the flocks of your companions?
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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 is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
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If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
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I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
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Your cheeks are comely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make for you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.
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We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.
12 While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.
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While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh that lies between my breasts.
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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 Engedi.
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My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
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Ah, you are beautiful, my love; ah, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful. Our couch is green;
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Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly lovely. Our couch is green;
17 the beams of our house are cedar; our rafters are pine.
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the beams of our house are cedar, our rafters are pine.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.