Song of Songs 1:3-14

³I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation—it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore you!

⁴Take me by the hand—let's run! (The king has brought me to his bedroom.) Let's be happy together and find pleasure in your love. Your love is far better than wine! Women are right to adore you so!

⁵I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

⁶Don't look down on me because I'm black, because the sun has burned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, so I couldn't look after my own vineyard.

⁷My love, please tell me where you're taking your flock. Where will you rest them at noon? For why should I have to wear a veil while looking for you among the flocks of your companions?

⁸If you really don't know, you who are more beautiful than any other woman, then follow the tracks of my flock, and let your goats graze near the shepherd's tents.

⁹My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,

¹⁰Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.

¹¹Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.

¹²As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.

¹³My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.

¹⁴My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.