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How graceful are your sandaled feet,
        willing woman!
The smooth curves of your thighs—like fine jewelry,
        the work of an artist’s hands!
Your navel, cupped like the full moon—
        may it never lack spiced wine!
Your belly is a mound of winnowed wheat
        edged with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
        twins of a gazelle doe;
    your neck, like a tower of ivory;
        your eyes, pools in Heshbon,
            by the gate of that lordly city.[a]
Your profile is like the tower of Lebanon,
        looking out toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel,
        and your hair, braided in royal purple—
            a king is bound by the tresses!
You are so beautiful, so lovely—
        my love, delightful one![b]
Your stately form resembles a date palm,
        and your breasts are like clustered fruit.
I say, “I will climb the palm tree;
        I will hold its fruit!”

May your breasts be now
        like grape clusters,
and the scent of your breath like apples!
        Your palate is like excellent wine . . .

[Woman]

        . . . flowing smoothly for my love,
            gliding through the lips and teeth.[c]
10 I belong to my lover,
        and his longing is only for me.

The ripeness of love

[Woman]

11 Come, my love:
        Let’s go out to the field
        and rest all night among the flowering henna.
12 Let’s set out early for the vineyards.
We will see if the vines have budded
        and the blossoms opened,
    see if the pomegranates have bloomed.
There I’ll give my loving to you.

13 The mandrakes give off their scent,
        and at our doorways is every delicacy—
            fresh or ripened—
        my love, I have kept them hidden for you.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 7:4 Or by the gate of Bath-rabbim
  2. Song of Solomon 7:6 With Syr and Aquila daughter of delights; MT love in delights or love with every charm
  3. Song of Solomon 7:9 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT through the lips of those who sleep; Heb uncertain

[a]How beautiful your sandaled feet,
    O prince’s(A) daughter!
Your graceful legs are like jewels,
    the work of an artist’s hands.
Your navel is a rounded goblet
    that never lacks blended wine.
Your waist is a mound of wheat
    encircled by lilies.
Your breasts(B) are like two fawns,
    like twin fawns of a gazelle.
Your neck is like an ivory tower.(C)
Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon(D)
    by the gate of Bath Rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon(E)
    looking toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.(F)
    Your hair is like royal tapestry;
    the king is held captive by its tresses.
How beautiful(G) you are and how pleasing,
    my love, with your delights!(H)
Your stature is like that of the palm,
    and your breasts(I) like clusters of fruit.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree;
    I will take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes on the vine,
    the fragrance of your breath like apples,(J)
    and your mouth like the best wine.

She

May the wine go straight to my beloved,(K)
    flowing gently over lips and teeth.[b]
10 I belong to my beloved,
    and his desire(L) is for me.(M)
11 Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside,
    let us spend the night in the villages.[c]
12 Let us go early to the vineyards(N)
    to see if the vines have budded,(O)
if their blossoms(P) have opened,
    and if the pomegranates(Q) are in bloom(R)
    there I will give you my love.
13 The mandrakes(S) send out their fragrance,
    and at our door is every delicacy,
both new and old,
    that I have stored up for you, my beloved.(T)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 7:1 In Hebrew texts 7:1-13 is numbered 7:2-14.
  2. Song of Songs 7:9 Septuagint, Aquila, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew lips of sleepers
  3. Song of Songs 7:11 Or the henna bushes