The Young Shulammite Bride and Jerusalem’s Daughters

The [a]Song of (A)Songs, which is Solomon’s.

[b]May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your (B)love is better than wine.
“Your (C)oils have a pleasing fragrance,
Your (D)name is like [c]purified oil;
Therefore the [d](E)maidens love you.
“Draw me after you and let us run together!
The (F)king has brought me into his chambers.”

[e]We will rejoice in you and be glad;
We will [f]extol your (G)love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you.”

[g]I am black but (H)lovely,
O (I)daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the (J)tents of (K)Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
“Do not stare at me because I am [h]swarthy,
For the sun has burned me.
My (L)mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me (M)caretaker of the vineyards,
But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.
“Tell me, O you (N)whom my soul loves,
Where do you (O)pasture your flock,
Where do you make it (P)lie down at noon?
For why should I be like one who [i]veils herself
Beside the flocks of your (Q)companions?”

Solomon, the Lover, Speaks

[j]If you yourself do not know,
(R)Most beautiful among women,
Go forth on the trail of the flock
And pasture your young goats
By the tents of the shepherds.

[k]To me, (S)my darling, you are like
My (T)mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.
10 “Your (U)cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with strings of (V)beads.”

11 [l]We will make for you ornaments of gold
With beads of silver.”

12 [m]While the king was at his [n]table,
My [o](W)perfume gave forth its fragrance.
13 “My beloved is to me a pouch of (X)myrrh
Which lies all night between my breasts.
14 “My beloved is to me a cluster of (Y)henna blossoms
In the vineyards of (Z)Engedi.”

15 [p][q](AA)How beautiful you are, my darling,
[r]How beautiful you are!
Your (AB)eyes are like doves.”

16 [s][t]How handsome you are, (AC)my beloved,
And so pleasant!
Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!
17 “The beams of our houses are (AD)cedars,
Our rafters, [u](AE)cypresses.

The Bride’s Admiration

[v]I am the [w](AF)rose of (AG)Sharon,
The (AH)lily of the valleys.”

[x]Like a lily among the thorns,
So is (AI)my darling among the [y]maidens.”

[z]Like an [aa](AJ)apple tree among the trees of the forest,
So is my beloved among the [ab]young men.
In his shade I took great delight and sat down,
And his (AK)fruit was sweet to my [ac]taste.
“He has (AL)brought me to his [ad]banquet hall,
And his (AM)banner over me is love.
“Sustain me with (AN)raisin cakes,
Refresh me with [ae](AO)apples,
Because (AP)I am lovesick.
“Let (AQ)his left hand be under my head
And (AR)his right hand (AS)embrace me.”

[af]I (AT)adjure you, O (AU)daughters of Jerusalem,
By the (AV)gazelles or by the (AW)hinds of the field,
(AX)That you do not arouse or awaken my love
Until [ag]she pleases.”

[ah]Listen! My beloved!
Behold, he is coming,
Climbing (AY)on the mountains,
Leaping on the hills!
“My beloved is like a (AZ)gazelle or a (BA)young [ai]stag.
Behold, he is standing behind our wall,
He is looking through the windows,
He is peering (BB)through the lattice.

10 “My beloved responded and said to me,
(BC)Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along.
11 ‘For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
12 ‘The flowers have already appeared in the land;
The time has arrived for [aj]pruning the vines,
And the voice of the (BD)turtledove has been heard in our land.
13 ‘The (BE)fig tree has ripened its figs,
And the (BF)vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along!’”

14 [ak]O (BG)my dove, (BH)in the clefts of the [al]rock,
In the secret place of the steep [am]pathway,
Let me see your [an]form,
(BI)Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is sweet,
And your [ao]form is (BJ)lovely.”

15 [ap](BK)Catch the foxes for us,
The [aq]little foxes that are ruining the vineyards,
While our (BL)vineyards are in blossom.”

16 [ar](BM)My beloved is mine, and I am his;
He (BN)pastures his flock among the lilies.
17 (BO)Until [as]the cool of the day when the shadows flee away,
Turn, my beloved, and be like a (BP)gazelle
Or a young stag (BQ)on the mountains of [at]Bether.”

The Bride’s Troubled Dream

[au]On my bed night after night I sought him
(BR)Whom my soul loves;
I (BS)sought him but did not find him.
[av]I must arise now and [aw]go about the city;
In the (BT)streets and in the squares
[ax]I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but did not find him.
(BU)The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’
(BV)Scarcely had I [ay]left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I (BW)held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had (BX)brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the room of her who conceived me.”

[az]I (BY)adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the (BZ)gazelles or by the hinds of the field,
That you will not arouse or awaken my love
Until [ba]she pleases.”

Solomon’s Wedding Day

[bb][bc](CA)What is this coming up from the wilderness
Like (CB)columns of smoke,
Perfumed with (CC)myrrh and (CD)frankincense,
With all scented powders of the merchant?
“Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon;
Sixty mighty men around it,
Of the mighty men of Israel.
“All of them are wielders of the sword,
(CE)Expert in war;
Each man has his (CF)sword at his side,
Guarding against the [bd](CG)terrors of the night.
“King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair
From the timber of Lebanon.
10 “He made its posts of silver,
Its [be]back of gold
And its seat of purple fabric,
With its interior lovingly fitted out
By the (CH)daughters of Jerusalem.
11 “Go forth, O (CI)daughters of Zion,
And gaze on King Solomon with the [bf]crown
With which his mother has crowned him
On the (CJ)day of his wedding,
And on the day of his gladness of heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 1:1 Or Best of the Songs
  2. Song of Solomon 1:2 BRIDE
  3. Song of Solomon 1:3 Lit oil which is emptied (from one vessel to another)
  4. Song of Solomon 1:3 Or virgins
  5. Song of Solomon 1:4 CHORUS
  6. Song of Solomon 1:4 Lit mention with praise
  7. Song of Solomon 1:5 BRIDE
  8. Song of Solomon 1:6 Or black
  9. Song of Solomon 1:7 Some versions read wanders
  10. Song of Solomon 1:8 BRIDEGROOM
  11. Song of Solomon 1:9 Lit I have compared you to
  12. Song of Solomon 1:11 CHORUS
  13. Song of Solomon 1:12 BRIDE
  14. Song of Solomon 1:12 Or couch
  15. Song of Solomon 1:12 Lit nard
  16. Song of Solomon 1:15 BRIDEGROOM
  17. Song of Solomon 1:15 Lit Behold
  18. Song of Solomon 1:15 Lit Behold
  19. Song of Solomon 1:16 BRIDE
  20. Song of Solomon 1:16 Lit Behold
  21. Song of Solomon 1:17 Or junipers
  22. Song of Solomon 2:1 BRIDE
  23. Song of Solomon 2:1 Lit crocus
  24. Song of Solomon 2:2 BRIDEGROOM
  25. Song of Solomon 2:2 Lit daughters
  26. Song of Solomon 2:3 BRIDE
  27. Song of Solomon 2:3 Or apricot
  28. Song of Solomon 2:3 Lit sons
  29. Song of Solomon 2:3 Lit palate
  30. Song of Solomon 2:4 Lit house of wine
  31. Song of Solomon 2:5 Or apricots
  32. Song of Solomon 2:7 BRIDEGROOM
  33. Song of Solomon 2:7 Or it
  34. Song of Solomon 2:8 BRIDE
  35. Song of Solomon 2:9 Lit of the stags
  36. Song of Solomon 2:12 Or singing
  37. Song of Solomon 2:14 BRIDEGROOM
  38. Song of Solomon 2:14 Or crag
  39. Song of Solomon 2:14 Or cliff
  40. Song of Solomon 2:14 Lit appearance
  41. Song of Solomon 2:14 Lit appearance
  42. Song of Solomon 2:15 CHORUS
  43. Song of Solomon 2:15 Or young
  44. Song of Solomon 2:16 BRIDE
  45. Song of Solomon 2:17 Lit the day blows
  46. Song of Solomon 2:17 Or cleavage or a kind of spice
  47. Song of Solomon 3:1 BRIDE
  48. Song of Solomon 3:2 Or Let me arise
  49. Song of Solomon 3:2 Or Let me arise
  50. Song of Solomon 3:2 Or Let me seek
  51. Song of Solomon 3:4 Lit passed
  52. Song of Solomon 3:5 BRIDEGROOM
  53. Song of Solomon 3:5 Or it
  54. Song of Solomon 3:6 CHORUS
  55. Song of Solomon 3:6 Lit Who
  56. Song of Solomon 3:8 Lit terror in the nights
  57. Song of Solomon 3:10 Or support
  58. Song of Solomon 3:11 Or wreath

The Reign of the Righteous King.

A Psalm of Solomon.

72 Give the king (A)Your judgments, O God,
And (B)Your righteousness to the king’s son.
[a]May [b]he (C)judge Your people with righteousness
And [c](D)Your afflicted with justice.
[d]Let the mountains bring [e](E)peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.
[f]May he (F)vindicate the [g]afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy
And crush the oppressor.

[h]Let them fear You (G)while the sun endures,
And [i]as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
[j]May he come down (H)like rain upon the mown grass,
Like (I)showers that water the earth.
In his days [k]may the (J)righteous flourish,
And (K)abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

May he also rule (L)from sea to sea
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
[l]Let (M)the nomads of the desert (N)bow before him,
And his enemies (O)lick the dust.
10 [m]Let the kings of (P)Tarshish and of the [n](Q)islands bring presents;
The kings of (R)Sheba and (S)Seba (T)offer [o]gifts.
11 [p]And let all (U)kings bow down before him,
All (V)nations serve him.

12 For he will (W)deliver the needy when he cries for help,
The [q]afflicted also, and him who has no helper.
13 He will have (X)compassion on the poor and needy,
And the [r]lives of the needy he will save.
14 He will [s](Y)rescue their [t]life from oppression and violence,
And their blood will be (Z)precious in his sight;
15 So may he live, and may the (AA)gold of Sheba be given to him;
And let [u]them pray for him continually;
Let [v]them bless him all day long.

16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains;
Its fruit will wave like the cedars of (AB)Lebanon;
And may those from the city flourish like (AC)vegetation of the earth.
17 May his (AD)name endure forever;
May his name [w]increase [x](AE)as long as the sun shines;
And let men (AF)bless themselves by him;
(AG)Let all nations call him blessed.

18 (AH)Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone (AI)works wonders.
19 And blessed be His (AJ)glorious name forever;
And may the whole (AK)earth be filled with His glory.
(AL)Amen, and Amen.

20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 72:2 Or He will judge
  2. Psalm 72:2 Many of the pronouns in this Psalm may be rendered He since the typical reference is to the Messiah
  3. Psalm 72:2 Or Your humble
  4. Psalm 72:3 Or The mountains will bring
  5. Psalm 72:3 Or prosperity
  6. Psalm 72:4 Or He will vindicate
  7. Psalm 72:4 Or humble
  8. Psalm 72:5 Or They will fear
  9. Psalm 72:5 Lit before the moon
  10. Psalm 72:6 Or He will come down
  11. Psalm 72:7 Or the righteous will flourish
  12. Psalm 72:9 Or The nomads...will bow
  13. Psalm 72:10 Or The kings...will bring
  14. Psalm 72:10 Or coastlands
  15. Psalm 72:10 Or tribute
  16. Psalm 72:11 Or All kings will bow down
  17. Psalm 72:12 Or humble
  18. Psalm 72:13 Lit souls
  19. Psalm 72:14 Lit redeem
  20. Psalm 72:14 Lit soul
  21. Psalm 72:15 Lit him
  22. Psalm 72:15 Lit him
  23. Psalm 72:17 Or sprout forth
  24. Psalm 72:17 Lit before the sun

The Day of the Lord

Now as to the (A)times and the epochs, brethren, you (B)have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that (C)the day of the Lord [a]will come (D)just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “(E)Peace and safety!” then [b](F)destruction [c]will come upon them suddenly like (G)labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in (H)darkness, that the day would overtake you [d](I)like a thief; for you are all (J)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of (K)darkness; so then let us not (L)sleep as [e](M)others do, but let us be alert and [f](N)sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get (O)drunk at night. But since (P)we are of the day, let us (Q)be [g]sober, having put on the (R)breastplate of (S)faith and love, and as a (T)helmet, the (U)hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for (V)wrath, but for (W)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (X)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore [h]encourage one another and (Y)build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you [i](Z)appreciate those (AA)who diligently labor among you, and (AB)have charge over you in the Lord and give you [j]instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (AC)Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish (AD)the [k]unruly, encourage (AE)the fainthearted, help (AF)the weak, be (AG)patient with everyone. 15 See that (AH)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always (AI)seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 (AJ)Rejoice always; 17 (AK)pray without ceasing; 18 in everything (AL)give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 (AM)Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise (AN)prophetic [l]utterances. 21 But (AO)examine everything carefully; (AP)hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every [m]form of evil.

23 Now (AQ)may the God of peace (AR)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your (AS)spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, (AT)without blame at (AU)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 (AV)Faithful is He who (AW)calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

25 Brethren, (AX)pray for us[n].

26 (AY)Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to (AZ)have this letter read to all the (BA)brethren.

28 (BB)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Lit is coming
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Or sudden destruction
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Lit comes upon
  4. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 One early ms reads like thieves
  5. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Lit the remaining ones
  6. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Or self-controlled
  7. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Or self-controlled
  8. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Or comfort
  9. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 Lit know
  10. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 Or admonition
  11. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Or undisciplined
  12. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 Or gifts
  13. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Or appearance
  14. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Two early mss add also