King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
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.
2 O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! For your love is better than wine,
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
3 your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is oil poured out; therefore the maidens love you.
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 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 black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
5 I am very dark, but comely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like 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.
6 Do not gaze at me because I am swarthy, because the sun has scorched 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, 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 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 wanders beside the flocks of your companions?
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 If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your kids beside the shepherds' tents.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
9 I compare you, my love, to a mare of Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
10 Your cheeks are comely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
11 We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
12 While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
13 My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Enge'di.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly lovely. Our couch is green;
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.
17 the beams of our house are cedar, our rafters are pine.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.