The Bride Confesses Her Love

(Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

1 This [is] Solomon’s Song of Songs.[fn]

The Bride

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is more delightful than wine.

3 The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the maidens adore you.

4 Take me away with you—let us hurry!

May the king bring me to his chambers.

The Friends

We will rejoice and delight in you;

we will praise your love more than wine.

The Bride

It is only right that they adore you.

5 I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not stare because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed upon me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me a keeper of the vineyards,

[but] my own vineyard I have neglected.

7 Tell me, O one I love,

where do you pasture your sheep?

Where do you rest them at midday?

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your companions?

The Friends

8 If you do not know O fairest of women,

follow the tracks of the flock,

and graze your young goats

near the tents of the shepherds.

The Bridegroom

9 I compare you, my darling,

to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

10 Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments,

your neck with strings of jewels.

The Friends

11 We will make you ornaments of gold,

[studded] with beads of silver.

The Bride

12 While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

in the vineyards of En-gedi.

The Bridegroom

15 How beautiful [you are], my darling!

Oh, how very beautiful!

Your eyes are [like] doves.

The Bride

16 How handsome [you are], my beloved!

Oh, how delightful!

The soft grass [is] our bed.

The Bridegroom

17 The beams of our house are cedars;

our rafters [are fragrant] firs.