Song of Solomon 1:1-8

English Standard Version

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your ^(B)love is better than wine;
³     your ^(C)anointing oils are fragrant;
your ^(D)name is oil poured out;
    therefore virgins love you.
^4 (E)Draw me after you; ^(F)let us run.
    ^(G)The king has brought me into his chambers.

We will ^(H)exult and rejoice in you;
    we will extol ^(I)your love more than wine;
    rightly do they love you.

⁵ I am very dark, but ^(J)lovely,
    O ^(K)daughters of Jerusalem,
like ^(L)the tents of ^(M)Kedar,
    like the curtains of Solomon.
⁶ Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
    because the sun has looked upon me.
My ^(N)mother's sons were angry with me;
    they made me ^(O)keeper of ^(P)the vineyards,
    but ^(Q)my own vineyard I have not kept!
⁷ Tell me, you ^(R)whom my soul loves,
    where you ^(S)pasture your flock,
    where you make it ^(T)lie down at noon;
for why should I be like one who veils herself
    beside the flocks of your ^(U)companions?

⁸ If you do not know,
    O ^(V)most beautiful among women,
follow in the tracks of the flock,
    and pasture your young goats
    beside the shepherds' tents.