Song of Solomon 7:9-11
New English Translation
9 May your mouth[a] be like the best wine,
flowing smoothly for my beloved,
gliding gently over our lips as we sleep together.[b]
Poetic Refrain: Mutual Possession
The Beloved about Her Lover:
10 I am my beloved’s,
and he desires me![c]
The Journey to the Countryside
The Beloved to Her Lover:
11 Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside;
let us spend the night in the villages.
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 7:9 tn The term חֵךְ (khek, “palate, mouth”) is often used as a metonymy for what the mouth produces, e.g., the mouth is the organ of taste (Ps 119:103; Job 12:11; 20:13; 34:3; Prov 24:13; Song 2:3), speech (Job 6:30; 31:30; 33:2; Prov 5:3; 8:7), sound (Hos 8:1), and kisses (Song 5:16; 7:10) (HALOT 313 s.v. חֵךְ; BDB 335 s.v. חֵךְ). The metonymical association of her palate/mouth and her kisses is made explicit by RSV which translated the term as “kisses.”
- Song of Solomon 7:9 tc The MT reads שִׁפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים (shifte yeshenim, “lips of those who sleep”). However, an alternate Hebrew reading of שְׂפָתַי וְשִׁנָּי (sefatay veshinnay, “my lips and my teeth”) is suggested by the Greek tradition (LXX, Aquila, Symmachus): χείλεσίν μου καὶ ὀδοῦσιν (cheilesin mou kai odousin, “my lips and teeth”). This alternate reading, with minor variations, is followed by NAB, NIV, NRSV, TEV, NLT.tn Or “his lips as he falls asleep.” Heb “the lips of sleepers.” Alternately, “over lips and teeth” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT).
- Song of Solomon 7:10 tn Heb “his desire is for me” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
Song of Solomon 7:9-11
New King James Version
9 And the roof of your mouth like the best wine.
The Shulamite
The wine goes down smoothly for my beloved,
[a]Moving gently the [b]lips of sleepers.
10 (A)I am my beloved’s,
And (B)his desire is toward me.
11 Come, my beloved,
Let us go forth to the field;
Let us lodge in the villages.
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 7:9 Gliding over
- Song of Solomon 7:9 LXX, Syr., Vg. lips and teeth.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
