HOWDOYOUPRONOUNCEWHATYOUREADfNHEBREW?
PRONOUNCIATIONTRANSLITERATIONHEBREWLETTER
HEBREWLETTER.
HANDWRITTIS'C
Aasin"arch"alef,."A"NJc
Basin''Bank".Vasin"veil"beit,"B"or"V"1p
Gasin"golfguimel,"G"AdDasin"David"dalet,"D"1?
Hasin"home"he,"H"np
Vasin"volt"vav,"V"I
Zasin"zeal"zain,"Z"•Tb
CHasin"chutzpa"chet,"CH"nti
Tasin"tear"tet,"T"x>6Yasin"yes"yod,"Y"t/
Kasin"kangaroo",KHasin"khutzpa"appearstheendoftheword.
kaf,khaf"K",
"KH"
khafsofit"KH"
D
1?
Lasin"learn"lamed,"L"/Masin"mother"mem,"M"D,n
Nasin"name"nun,"N"/'J
Sasin"Solomon"samech,"S"Do
'Aasin"all"(guttural,fromthethroat)'ayin,'"A"Vy
Pasin"paint".Fasin"father"appearsaitheendoftheword.
pe,phe,"P","F"phesofit
0
n
D
TZasin"tzar"
appearsattheendoftheword.tzadi,"TZ"
tzadisofitV
3
yKasin"king"kot;"K"p?Rasin"Rebecca"resh,"R"
SHasin"sheep"shin,"SH"yDe
Tasin"tank"tav,"T"•nJ-)
Vowels
a=e/=K'
o=Niu=
SONG OF SONGS 1:1-13
with-kisses-of let-him-kiss-me (2) of-Solomon that the-Songs Song-of (1:1)
in-fragrance-of (3) more-than-wine loves-of-you delightful-ones for mouth-of-him
]3 -hv ?jg27 pnin ]Q '̂ ••'ilcsthis for name-of-you she-is-poured-out perfume pleasing-ones perfumes-of-you
•':s''3n nsnj •'33?'ahe-brought-me let-us-hurry with-you take-away-me! (4) they-love-you maidens
nT3T3 '̂ 2 nnora nb-jj riinwe-will-praise in-you and-we-delight we-rejoice chambers-of-him the-king
nm] nninp : on?*'?? l?o TTyet-lovely I dark (5) they-adore-you right-ones more-than-wine loves-of-you
: nab?? ntono nip ">nx3 niaSolomon like-tent-curtains-of Kedar like-tents-of Jerusalem daughters-of
^32 mm •'ansM mftnnK; ~h\<: VAT " • ! Tv: V V : : j . v •
sons-of the-sun because-she-darkened-me dark because-I you-stare-at-me not (6)
"n^ 'to "nqj " ''DX*** one-caring-for they-made-me with-me they-were-angry motherTof-me
nn^3n t-'niB: s*? •''p? •'oisto-me tell! (7) I-cared-for not that-to-me vineyard-of-me the-vineyards
]"3-)n TO-'K nsin ns's ts? naq^fyou-give-rest where? you-graze-flock where? self-of-me whom-she-Ioves
n^riK ni?W onnsaflocks-of beside like-one-being-veiled 1-should-be that-why? at-the-middays
D'W|3 n|)»n 'snn x '̂dn =T^30among-the-women the-beautiful-one to-you you-know not if (8) friends-of-you
yoxmg-goats-of-you **' and-graze! the-sheep after-tracks-of to-you follow!
nSis '5?"!? "nop"? :o''pnPharaoh in-chariots-of to-mare-of-me (9) the-ones-being-shepherds tents-of by
VW'Pcheeks-of-you
m)< T
they-are-beautiful (10)
•
darling-of-me I-Iiken-you
bnr •'nin : o-rnna •nnsis DnnaT T <" I- - I \" T
gold earrings-of (11) with-the-strings-of-jewels neck-of-you with-the-earrings
that-the-king while (12) the-silver studs-of
"li^s ' nnn ipjsachet-of (13) fragrance-of-him he-spread perfume-of-me at-table-of-him
DS? -n? "n2;:?3V I T V -
with for-you we-will-make
130D3
591
^ Solomon's Song of Songs.Beloved'
'Let him kiss me with thekisses of his mouth-
for your love is moredelightful than wine.
'Pleasing is the fragrance ofyour perfumes;
your name is like perfumepoured out.
No wonder the maidenslove you!
*Take me away with you-let ushurry!
The king has brought meinto his chambers.
Friends
We rejoice and delight in you*;we will praise your love
more than wine.
Beloved
How right they are to adoreyou!
'Dark am I, yet lovely,O daughters of Jerusalem,dark like the tents of Kedar,like the tent curtains of
Solomon.'Do not stare at me because I
am dark,because 1 am darkened by
the sun.My mother's sons were ar.r-y
with me
and made me take care ofthe vineyards;
my own vineyard I haveneglected.
Tell me, you whom I love,where you graze yourflock
and where you rest yoursheep at midday.
Why should I be like a veiledwoman
beside the flocks of yourfriends?
Lover
•If you do not know, mostbeautiful of women,
follow the tracks of thesheep
and graze your young goatsby the tents of the
shepherds.'1 liken you, my darling, to a
mare
harnessed to one of thechariots of Pharaoh.
"Your cheeks are beautiful withearrings,
your neck with strings ofjewels.
"We will make you earrings ofgold,
studded with silver.
Beloved
'-While the king was at histable,
my perfume spread itsfragrance.
"Primarily on the basis of the gender of theHebrew pronouns used, male and femalespeakers are indicated in the margins bythe captions Lovtrand Beloved respectively.The words of others are marked Friends. Insome instances the divisions and theircaptions are debatable.'•4 The Hebrew is masculine singular.••5 Or Sfl/mii
592 SONG OF SONGS 1:13-2:11
il'b; ^ ]'3 •''? nn nbncluster-o( (14) he-rests breasts-o(-me between to-me lover-of-me the-myrrh
see-you! (15) Gedi En from-vineyards-of to-me lover-of-tne the-henna-blossom
Ti:r? TO', •qjn ••TOi hs;(16) doves eyes-of-you beautiful see-you! darling-of-me beautiful
: =i32?-ir
beams-of (17) verdant bed-of-us indeed charming how! lover-of-me handsome
]iifn Dinxlily-of the-Sharon rose-of 1 (2:1) firs rafter-of-us cedars houses-of-us
rnlBij i*",? TPrn p ••'ninn y2 ri327it;;3the-maidens among darling-of-me so the-thorns among like-lily (2) the-valleys
•'"jl" p nvin •'2173 msn?among lover-of-me so the-forest among-trees-of like-apple-tree (3)
p1n9 insi rnan I'psasweet and-fruit-of-him and-I-sit 1-delight
and-banner-of-him the-banquet hall-of to
A' - - • \ IT
with-the-apples refresh-me! with-the-raisins strengthen-me! (5) love over-me
nnn ibxafe fjx nanx n'?in -'s; -J* ; • IT \T
to-head-of-me under left-arm-of-him (6) I love being-faint-of for
ni32 nim Irp-'iJerusalem daughters-of you I-charge (7) she-embraces-me and-right-arm-of-him
-m mis;n "dj<t in-rn m2?n nlb''K3 ix ntosa•/ : I : • i: s* * * av t • j : - : \ r : •
'** you-awaken and-not you-arouse not the-field by-does-of and by-gazelles
K3 nr •nan "in bp irsnntf na nansnAT w •• • • |J I nr : v v /" \t - t
he-comes there look! lover-of-me sound-of (8) that-she-desires until the-love
npl" :nir3nn fspfp D^inn "brone-being-like (9) the-hills over bounding the-mountains across leaping
nail? nr -n3n D'''?"Nn isr'p is •'iis'? nil<v •• • yc T- IT V J ; \ • : •
standing here look! the-stags to-young-deer-of or to-gazelle lover-of-me
: ~p "nii^nn ~i« imthe-lattices through peering the-windows through gazing wall-of-us behind
see-you!
nn;p
^n^2;-i -p •'mp -hr T i - |*/T • ! / A*
in-shade-of-him the-young-men
he-took-me
I" • :
(4) to-taste-of-me
•'bi?
n:v
darling-of-me to-you arise! to-me and-he-said lover-of-me he-spoke (10)
"132? mbn nan ""'s : "nb -"dSi ^-)D^AT T \T : - /" • r j IT • ; v T T
he-passed the-winter see! for (11) to-you and-come! beautiful-one-of-me
"My lover is to me a sachet ofmyrrh
resting between my breasts."My lover is to me a cluster of
henna blossomsfrom the vineyards of En
Gedi.
Lover
"How beautiful you are, mydarling!
Oh, how beautiful!Your eyes are doves.
Beloved
"How handsome you are, mylover!
Oh, how charming!And our bed is verdant.
Lover
"The beams of our house arecedars;
our rafters are firs.
Beloved'
21 am arose' of Sharon,a lily of the valleys.
Lover
'Like a lily among thornsis my darling among the
maidens.
Beloved
'Like an apple tree among thetrees of the forest
is my lover among theyoung men.
I delight to sit in his shade,and his fruit is sweet to my
taste.
^He has taken me to thebanquet hall,
and his banner over me is
love.'Strengthen me with raisins,
refresh me writh apples,for 1 am faint with love.
'His left arm is under my head,and his right arm embraces
me.
'Daughters of Jerusalem, Icharge you
by the gazelles and by thedoes of the field;
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
•Listen! My lover!Look! Here he comes,
leaping across the mountains,bounding over the hills.
'My lover is like a gazelle or ayoung stag.
Look! There he standsbehind our wall,
gazing through the windows,peering through the lattice.
"My lover spoke and said tome,
"Arise, my darling,my beautiful one, and come
with me.
"See! The winter is past;
Ot Lovtr
'I Possibly i member of the crocus family
*9 Most mss have pathab under thebetb (nu'rnn).
'17 uo-'m pinnon p
blossom
•>na'»V T T
SONG OF SONGS 2:11-3:4
iK")3 lib t]}?;! pjbn D |̂non-the-earth they-appear the-flowers (12) to-him he-went he-is-over the-rain
"linn 5;*'an t'dth nr/- : • v - 1/ : - • v t - /•*
in-Iand-of-us he-is-heard the-dove and-sound-of he-came the-song season-of
nmnT V - JT : IT
early-fruits-of-her she-forms
^5b -"Oip nn; VT * 1/ ^
beautiful-one-of-me darling-of-me come! arise! fragrance
nnbs vb^n •'fijr -^Dbiin-hlding-place-of the-rock in-clefts-of dove-of-me (14) to-you and-come!
for voice-of-you *** let-hear-me! faces-of-you *** show-me! the-mountainside
foxes foxes for-us catch! (IS) lovely and-faces-of-you sweet voice-of-you
A- T: j- : - :
vineyards ones-ruining
to-him and-I
-noT bo n-hb^n ni^n: A* T : - \t: - - tv _
be-like! turn! the-shadows and-they-flee the-day when-he-breaks until (17)
nn 'bv iBvb ^n:sh nil >1^•VT - V T - T V / : •/ • : • • I :
hills-of on the-stags to-young-deer-of or to-gazelle lover-of-me to-you
naD^I' ns "•'a3??D -bv : npawhom-she-loves *" I-looked-for in-the-nights bed-of-me on (3:1) ruggedness
Ka : rnxso ^b] •'g;?:now! I-will-get-up (2) I-found-him but-not I-looked-for-him heart-of-me
Ir T : - :
and-the-vines
r r: -
ira-isnV T:
njxnn
the-fig-tree (13)
i3n3: JT
they-spread
bloom indeed-vineyards-of-us
:D''32;i2?5 nrinamong-the-Iilies the-one-browsing to-me
•"•aaplittle-ones
••-inr
lover-of-me
ns?
(16)
ninfnni
and-through-the-squares
sbi/ : V :
but-not I-looked-for-him
csabn
the-ones-going-round
D''p3?3through-the-streets
heart-of-me
Dn»i£?n• ;.j -
the-men-watching
£D1?Q3- ; ♦
as-scarcely
•>2733V : -
you-saw(4) you-saw heart-of-me
nnnxK? m nv nno\T T V I • T T IV J- V ••
heart-of-me whom-she-loves "* that-I-found when from-them that-I-passed
nra VriK-'anf —is? ijiix "^rirnxhouse-of to when-I-brought-him till 1-would-let-go-him and-not I-held-him '13 i7 p
A' : -
ms'27
"T'j72 nnniOKi• T JT ; -
through-the-city and-I-will-go-about
whom-she-loves ***
T :
they-found-me
nznmtr T V
whom-she-loves
(3)
I-will-search-for
; vnxsa
I-found-him
A- T
in-the-city
593
the rains are over and gone."Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing hascome,
the cooing of dovesis heard in our land.
'The fig tree forms its earlyfruit;
the blossoming vines spreadtheir fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;my beautiful one, come with
me."
Lover
"My dove in the clefts of therock,
in the hiding places on themountainside,
show me your face,let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,and your face is lovely.
"Catch for us the foxes,the little foxes
that ruin the vineyards,our vineyards that are in
bloom.
Beloved
"My lover is mine and I amhis;
he browses among the lilies."Until the day breaks
and the shadows flee,turn, my lover,
and be like a gazelleor like a young stag
on the rugged hills.'
3 All night long on my bedI looked for the one my
heart loves;1 looked for him but did not
find him.
H will get up now and go aboutthe city,
through its streets andsquares;
I will search for the one myheart loves.
So I looked for him but didnot find him.
The watchmen found meas they made their rounds
in the city."Have you seen the one my
heart loves?"'Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one myheart loves.
I held him and would not lethim go
till I had brought him to mymother's house,
Il7 Ot the hills of Bether
594 SONG OF SONGS 3:4-4:3
nl23 Dim tTnin mn "bxi< • V : V • : - : • r t v\v v :
daughters-of you I-charge (5) one-conceiving-me room-of and-to mother-of-me
in'^rn "DK mts?n niKasa b^2?n*'• I: S- T • AVT - J : \ t : • •- t :
and-not you-arouse not the-field by-does-of and by-gazelles Jerusalem
"]P nbv nxT •'9 ^ri™' ii; ngnxn-n^ nii?nfrom coming-up this who? (6) that-she-desires until the-love *** you-awaken
lio mcDp» nl-iaTis -linsnv<v I : I AT T \ -: r ; r : • -
myrrh being-perfumed-of smoke like-columns-of the-desert
inen nsn tbsn npas "jsnT • " • I" - \ •
carriage-of-him look! (7) one-being-merchant spice-of from-all-of
tbsnto' naaD nb 3'30 onaaT : ' y. • • XT V • r ' • •
Israel frcm-noble-ones-of about-her around warriors sixty that-to-Solomon
B'-K nnn'ja ''ns'?D anft 'ips bbs<• AT T ; • \" : • J •- : *
each battle ones-being-experienced-of sword ones-wearing-of all-of-them (8)
n^i; "insa ii"!*; ~bv i2")nhe-made carriage (9) of-the-nights for-terror side-of-him at sword-of-him
nfes V-1S37 'sgp nii'*??; i*?he-made posts-of-him (10) the-Lebanon from-woods-of Solomon the-king for-him
i3in i»nx iasna ant inTB-! s]o5
and-incense
being-inlaid interior-of-him purple
nl33T yv : I
\ T
seat-of-him gold
J T
base-of-him silver
ni:3Q mm
Zion daughters-of and-look! come-out! (11) Jerusalem by-daughters-of love
isx "h nnega nfa'btf -ribsamother-of-him upon-him which-she-crowned with-the-crown Solomon at-the-king
Tian tiab nnnfe otan ifirin oi-'asee-you! (4:1) heart-of-him rejoicing-of on-day-of wedding-of-him on-day-of
ntfao D-'ji'- r •
at-behind doves
TO'"?!!!:?\ : T V
that-they-descend
the-ones-being-shorn
ni^'Kno' :
ones-having-twins
eyes-of-you
••"ten♦ • IT
the-goats
-ns?DVJ" ;
ns:beautiful
"11 rsvj" :
like-flock-of
like-flock-of teeth-of-you
hbstHthat-each-of-them
nsninAT : - T
the-washing
a, I nf',see-you! darling-of-me beautiful
hair-of-you
: ir'53IT : •
(2) Gilead
"Ffrom
JA" T - ;
to-veil-of-you
from-Mount-of
\ T V
that-they-come-up
and-alone
•siinh^ Dinslips-of-yau the-scarlet like-ribbon-of (3)
:Dn|of-them
Wthere-is-not
nrap •'irtjjn jisin n^s?at-behind temple-of-you the-pomegranate like-half-of lovely and-mouths-of-you
to the room of the one whoconceived me.
'Daughters of Jerusalem, Icharge you
by the gazelles and by thedoes of the field;
Do not arouse or awaken loveuntil it so desires.
'Who is this coming up fromthe desert
like a column of smoke,perfumed with myrrh and
incense
made from all the spices ofthe merchant?
T-Ooki It is Solomon's carriage,escorted by sixty warriors,the noblest of Israel,
'all of them wearing the sword,all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at hisside,
prepared for the terrors ofthe night.
'King Solomon made forhimself the carriage;
he made it of wood fromLebanon.
"Its posts he made of silver,its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered withpurple,
its interior lovingly inlaidby* the daughters of
Jerusalem."Come out, you daughters of
Zion,and look at King Solomon
wearing the crown,the crown with which his
mother crowned himon the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.
Lover
4 How beautiful you are, mydarling!
Oh, how beautiful!Your eyes behind your veil
are doves.Your hair is like a flock of
goatsdescending from Mount
Gilead.'Your teeth are like a flock of
sheep just shorn,coming up from the
washing.Each has its twin;
not one of them is alone.'Your lips are like a scarlet
ribbon;your mouth is lovely.
Your temples behind your veilare like the halves of a
pomegranate.
SIO Or iJS inlaid inleriora gift of love / from
SONG OF SONGS 4:3-15
•"^33\ T
one-being-built neck-of-you
• T
David like-tower-of
ar
(4) to-veil-of-you
n1»s'?n'?shields-of all-of on-him being-hung the-shield thousand-of with-elegances
n'-ns onsss? risy? ''3{& toniaan
gazelle twins-of fawns like-two-of breasts-of-you two-of (5) the-warriors
•fn iv : D*'aW3
the-day when-he-breaks until (6) among-the-lilies the-ones-browsing
- "liran "in "bx •nbx whh^n loaiV : - J- V • J V<" ft T : - \r!
and-to the-myrrh mountain-of to to-me 1-will-go the-shadows and-they-flee
ns'' ttS'd :n3l3^n ni;2a• - - - - - IT : - V : •
and-flaw
T: -
darling-of-me
T T
beautiful all-of-you (7)
'^m 71%
the-incense hill-of
from-Lebanon with-me bride from-Lebanon with-me (8) in-you there-is-not
]ib-)ni h-'p tyxnp naipx Inicyri •'xianeven-Hermon Senir from-top-of Amana from-crest-of you-descend you-come
you-stole-heart-of-me
from-eyes-of-you
!)£)»/ T
they-are-delightfui
(9)
"no
how!
: Dno3|. .. ;
leopards
in»3with-one
(10)
mnQ\" : -
from-mountains-of
Tn??"?you-stole-heart-of-me
o(-necklaces-of-you
nins
lions
bride
jewel-of
T-ITloves-of-you
:DTO3r T :
13£3<
they-are-pleasing
-bsa
"no
how!
W
n'?DAT -
bride
J' •:
sister-o£-me
niarsDJ I •
from-dens-of
TinNJ* •;
sister-of-me
"in^g
with-one-of
T-Tloves-of-you
spices more-than-any-of perfumes-of-you and-fragrance-of more-than-wine
•njl27b nnn bbm fi73*n •n-'ninsa? naacsn nsiJ- : -J- T T : <- ; at - | • r : • t : / ♦ vv
tongue-of-you under and-milk honey bride iips-of-you they-drop honeycomb (11)
garden
:Dinn
(12)
I r
Lebanon
i;?n
ni;;59 IVlike-fragrance-of garments-of-you
'piw rho TiriK
nm- /•• ;
and-fragrance-of
being-sealed fountain being-enclosed spring bride sister-of-me being-locked
•>-13 Di? 0*1-13
hennas choice-ones fruit-of with pomegranates orchard-of plants-of-you (13)
•"SS; -^3 017J" T V
trees-of all-of with and-cinnamon calamus and-saffron nard (14) nards with
rsa tD'Dfca ds nl'jnN'i nb ralab|j-: - !• r : , T r v t - < at :
fountain-of (15) spices finest-ones-of all-of and and-aloes myrrh incense '9 nnK3 j?
nap D3-1DT ma :D"'-iia-DS7
595
'Your neck is like the tower ofDavid,
built wth elegance*;on it hang a thousand shields,
all of them shields ofwarriors.
'Your two breasts are like twofawns,
like twin fawns of a gazellethat browse among the
lilies.
♦Until the day breaksand the shadows flee,
I will go to the mountain ofmyrrh
and to the hill of incense.'All beautiful you are, my
darling;there is no flaw in you.
•Come with me from Lebanon,my bride,
come with me fromLebanon.
Descend from the crest ofAmana,
from the top of Senir, thesummit of Hermon,
from the lions' densand the mountain haunts of
the leopards.'You have stolen my heart, my
sister, my bride;you have stolen my heart
with one glance of your eyes,with one jewel of your
necklace."How delightful is your love,
my sister, my bride!How much more pleasing is
your love than wine,and the fragrance of your
perfume than any spice!"Your hps drop sweetness as
the honeycomb, mybride;
milk and honey are underyour tongue.
The fragrance of yourgarments is like that ofLebanon.
"You are a garden lockedup,my sister, my bride;
you are a spring enclosed, asealed fountain.
"Your plants are ah orchard ofpome^anates
with choice fruits,with henna and nard,
" nard and saffron,calamus and cinnamon,with every kind of incense
tree,with myrrh and aloesand all the finest spices.
''4 The meaning of the Hebrew for thisword is uncertain.
596 SONG OF SONGS 4:15-5:8
"IQ whfy] ••'"n Dia -ik3 nilI" vts ^ J\»
Lebanon from even-ones-streaming-down flowing-ones waters well-of gardens
^33V"
garden-of-me
nin
lover-of-me
^nK3
• r T
blow-on! south-wind
j
and-come!
rnfcaAT T :
fragrances-of-him
ns
p-3snorth-wind
--nr• <
awake! (16)
hrJ I *
that-they-may-spread
s?:let-him-come
:r-7JD
I-came (5:1) choice-ones-of-him fruit-of and-lct-him-taste into-garden-of-him
'to -Qi? nia Tinx 'hV? •'nns '•'33'?spice-of-me with myrrh-of-me I-gathercd bride sxster-of-me into-gardcn-of-me.
"or T'' ^riTity ''^21 'Dv 'nr!A- T • V " ' r r • : * • t
milk-of-me and wine-of-me I-drank honey-of-me and honeycomb-of-me I-ate
'a'?! njg^. •'js ;D-nn nptfi in??but-heart-of-me
<
sister-of-me
\T" :
asleep I (2) lovers
•'nns psli "'ni'ito-me open! knocking lover-of-me
Tan
\ • t
and-drink-fill! drink! friends eat!
being-awakesound-of
Tiai''
being-drenched for-head-of-me flawless-one-of-me dove-of-me darling-of-me
HDrx '^3 •ns 'npfes VPS *''n'is5i? htindeed? robe-of-me *** I-took-off (3) night dampnesses-of hairs-of-me dew
must-I-soil-them
•'^0=1
T tr "
indeed?
ihn
feet-of-me
"P
•nx Tism: /- T
I-washed
n- nbtn
must-I-put-on-her
and-hearts-of-me the-latch-opening through hand-of-him he-thrust lover-of-me (4)
lit'? nns"? -nand-hands-of-me for-lover-of-me to-open I I-arose (5) for-him they-pounded
;'?is?3sn niss hs lis m'D 'nsasKi nin ispjthe-lock handles-of on flowing myrrh and-fingers-of-me myrrh they-dripped
na? PP17 •'ll-n •'in'? '38heart-of-me he-went he-left but-lover-of-me for-lover-of-me I I-opened (6)
I-found-him but-not I-looked-for-him when-to-speak-him
JT : IT
she-went-out
rnxip
the-men-watching they-found-me
•'3NSQ• S--. T !
' IT T
he-answered-me but-not 1-called-him
W&3
(7)
•Tisjss Tisn Tra D'jaon•ay: • j • V T /- •
they-took they-bruised-me they-beat-mc in-the-city the-ones-going-around
DDns TiBaon tnionn "'npttf 'Tily. • V • S S * ' * •
you I-charge (8) the-walls ones-watching-of from-on-me cloak-of-me
'^ou are'' a garden fountain,a well of flowing waterstreaming down from
Lebanon.
Beloved
"Awake, north wind,and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,that its fragrance may
spread abroad.Let my lover come into his
gardenand taste its choice fruits.
Lover
51 have come into my garden,my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrhwith my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomband my honey;
I have drunk my wine andmy milk.
Friends
Eat, O friends, and drink;drink your fill, O lovers.
Beloved
'I slept but my heart wasawake.
Listen! My lover isknocking:
"Open to me, my sister, mydarling,
my dove, my flawless one.My head is drenched with
dew,my hair with the dampness
of the night."'I have taken off my robe-
must 1 put it on again?I have washed my feet-
must I soil them again?*My lover thrust his hand
through thelatch-opening;
my heart began to poundfor him.
'I arose to open for my lover,and my hands dripped with
myrrh,my fingers with flowing
myrrh,on the handles of the lock.
i opened for my lover,but my lover had left; he
was gone.
My heart had gone out tohim when he spoke.
I looked for him but did notfind him.
I called him but he did notanswer.
The watchmen found meas they made their rounds
in the city.They beat me, they bruised
me;
they took away my cloak,those watchmen of the
walls!
'IS Or I em(spoken by the Beloved)
•2 Most mss have no dagai in the vav
SONG OF SONGS 5:8-6:4
i"? iTjp "na •'tiT ixspn-os nij?to-him will-you-tell what? lover-of-me *
?l7i"n "nobeloved-of-you how?
-na
beloved-of-you how?
ha
"ilio
better-than-beloved
inp
better-than-beloved
•pin
you-find if Jerusalem daughters-of
r-'jsnans nbw•IT \r
(9) I love that-one-being-faint-of
n53»nA- T - \T T -
among-the-women the-beautiful-one
being-outstanding and-ruddy radiant lover-of-me (10) you-charge-us that-so
'Vrvisip ts dhd tot• — • — T j • AT VJ*. \ IT T •
wavy-ones hairs-of-him purest-gold gold head-of-him (11) among-ten-thousand
••ip •'i3''S8 'hs o'li'ii rr» nl"intfwaters streams-of by like-doves eyes-of-him (12) as-the-raven black-ones
Vn"? tnx'pa'bB mssr a'jna nisniXX i '** * ^ • T T IV • •
cheeks-of-him (13) jewel like ones-being-mounted in-the-milk ones-being-washed
niscoj caW rninsjE; D''np"iD nanri>\ • •" I T s • /f |T : V \ • v j
ones-dripping lilies lips-of-him perfumes ftowers-of
ttfnffina a?it n!
the-spice like-bed-of
n22? ")io
with-the-chrysolite ones-being-set gold rods-of arms-of-him (14) flowing myrrh
:D*'TSO nsh>sa 10sapphires one-being-decorated ivory
TB - "3TK -hs n'l?'!?
n^spolished-work-of
niDJ?
rj7oT -
bodies-of-him
V0Wpure-gold bases-of on ones-being-set marble pillars-of legs-of-him (15)
:D''n>o!• T -: T
as-the-cedars one-being-choiceT 8
like-the-Lebanon
nln
lover-of-me
he-went
HT<v
this lovely-ones and-all-of-him sweetnesses mouth-of-him (16)
appearance-of-him
iDn
r\:i<T T<
niaa nn
to-where? (6:1) Jerusalem daughters-of friend-of-me and-this
njs HK ni'rilover-of-you he-turned to-where? among-the-women the-beautiful-one lover-of-you
-n-' nil =ia27P331
to-garden-of-him he-went-down lover-of-me (2) with-you that-we-may-look-for-him
•jK :D''a2;l2; CD'p'pbi niasI (3) lilies and-to-gather in-the-gardens
among-the-Iilies
D.^T'3 niKj ns-ins "vsimajestic as-Jerusalem lovely as-Tirzah darling-of-me you beautiful (4)
ns?"inW T
the-one-browsing to-me
hi»-ib D|;3nto-browse the-spice to-beds-of
j* :
and-lover-of-me
• ;
to-lover-of-me
597
»0 daughters of Jerusalem, Icharge you-
if you find my lover,what will you tell him?
Tell him I am faint withlove.
Friends
*How is your beloved betterthan others,
most beautiful of women?How is your beloved better
than others,that you charge us so?
Beloved
"My lover is radiant and ruddy,outstanding among ten
thousand.
"His head is purest gold;his hair is wavyand black as a raven.
"His eyes are like dovesby the water streams,
washed in milk,mounted like jewels.
"His cheeks are like beds ofspice
yielding perfume.His lips are like lilies
dripping with myrrh."His arms are rods of gold
set with chrysolite.His body is like polished ivory
decorated with sapphires."His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.His appearance is like
Lebanon,
choice as its cedars."His mouth is sweetness itself;
he is altogether lovely.This is my lover, this my
friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.
Friends
6 Where has your lover gone,most beautiful of women?
Which way did your loverturn,
that we may look for himwith you?
Beloved
'My lover has gone down to•his garden,
to the beds of spices,to browse in the gardens
and to gather lilies.'I am my lover's and my lover
is mine;he browses among the lilies.
Lover
•You are beautiful, my darling,as Tirzah,
lovely as Jerusalem,
'14 Or lapis lazuli
*11Most mss have no dagesb in andhave shurequnder the vav
fii The NIV repoints this word asones-yielding.
598 SONG OF SONGS 6:4-7:3*
•nc7VIV
for-they
-pfrom that-they-descend the-goats like-flock-of hair-of-you they-overwhelm-me
-]P =1^^ ""IS?from that-they-come-up the-sheeps like-flock-of teelh-of-you (6) the-Gilead
m nssmnI /*• XT - ; • : - T %. V AT : - 7
there-is-nol and-alone ones-having-twins that-each-of-them the-washing
jisin : Dnalemple-of-you the-pomegranate like-half-of (7) of-them
nlisbsn. d-'mbi nan a-m :"5inas^and-virgins concubines and-cighty queens they sixty (8) to-veil-of-you
w Wn nm nspp fxshe only perfect-one-of-me dove-of-me she unique (9) number there-is-no
hi:;i iiis-i x^n nn| n^s'?maidens they-saw-her of-one-bearing-her she favorite to-mother-of-her
•.nib'̂ nn ntoba nrtBKT,T I : • : I V : • I* / t ; t • . i
also-they-praised-her and-concubines queens and-they-called-blessed-her
n6n3 hna na'js ns'' nri»'-ia3 nsptfjn nxr -^aTT tt:~ jtt "AT : xtpt:*" f
as-the-sun bright as-the-moon fair dawn like the-one-appearing this who? (lo)
•'nni; "rias na : mbaias na^sto-Iook I-went-down nut-tree grove-of to (11) as-thc-ones-proceeding majestic
isjn ]si|n nmsn niK-i*?they-bloomed the-vine if-she-budded to-see
iraD- V •
at-behind
'Wfrom-beforc-me
whlXD
nl33-lD TO??
eyes-of-you
•>2^33
'sonturn!
Ti:;"!*'
: nibnjD(5) as-the-ones-having-banners
the-valley
k"?
•'33''n")n
•>3X3J" • J
at-new-growths-of
: D''3S"in
chariots-of she-set-me desire-of-mc I-realized not (12) the-pomegranates
rr'ib'jii^n 'aito 'aitf : anj "'JSJ?• f • " J " < * •
come-back! the-Shulammite come-back! come-back! *(7:1) royal people-of-me
"na •!]5 "nrnii •'aiitfon-the-Shulammite would-you-gaze why? on-you that-wfl-may-gaze come-backl
n'?nB3V : •
as-dance-offeet-of-you
ID"S T
they-are-beautiful
"HD
how! (2)
: •''Dnsn•lY - I-
the-Mahanaim
D-'̂ bq ia? TiT •'gian an; -najewels like legs-of-you graceful-ones-of prince daughter-of in-the-sandals
-•pis; nnin 13k qa^ ^7, n6??anever thc-roundness goblct-of navel-of-you (3) craftsman hands-of work-of
nsio •••csn nani? "ion"»
being-encircled wheats mound-of waist-of-you the-blended-wine he-lacks
majestic as troops withbanners.
Turn your eyes from me;they overwhelm me.
Your hair is like a flock ofgoats
descending from Gilead.'Your teeth are like a flock of
sheepcoming up from the
washing.Each has its tv/in,
not one of them is alone.'Your temples behind your veil
are like the halves of apomegranate.
•Sixty queens there may be,and eighty concubines,and virgins beyond number;
'but my dove, my perfect one,is unique,
the only daughter of hermother,
the favorite of the one whobore her.
The maidens saw her andcalled her blessed;
the queens and concubinespraised her.
"Who is this that appears likethe dawn,
fair as the moon, bright asthe sun,
majestic as the stars inprocession?
"I went down to the grove ofnut trees
to look at the new growth inthe valley,
to see if the vines had buddedor the pomegranates were in
bloom."Before I realized it,
my desire set me among theroyal chariots of mypeople.'
Friends
"Come back, come back, OShulammite;
come back, come back, thatwe may gaze on you!
Lover
Why would you gaze on theShulammite
as on the dance ofMahanaim?
7 How beautiful your sandaledfeet,
O prince's daughter!Your graceful legs are like
jewels,the work of a craftsman's
hands.'Your navel is a rounded goblet
that never lacks blendedwine.
Your waist is a mound ofwheat
*J2 Or among the chariots of Amminadab; oramong thechariots of thepeople of the prince
*I The Hebrew numeration of chapter7 begins with verse 13 of chapter 6 inEnglish; Ihus, there is a one-versediscrepancy throughout chapter 7.
t8 Most mss have no dagesh in themem CD).
SONG OF SONGS 7:3*-8:l
; n;3S ^j?gn D"'!?!? w? :D''2M2gazelle twins-of fawns like-two-of breasts-of-you two-of (4) by-the-lilies-bv ]i2?n3 nipi5 IF'Tiby of-Heshbon pools eyes-of-you the-ivory like-tower-of neck-of-you (5)
••35 riDiss
faces-of looking the-Lebanon like-tower-of nose-of-you Rabbim Bath gate-of
rimi n>ii ^§13? T-^?head-of-you and-hair-of like-the-Carmel upon-you head-of-you (6) Damascus
-nn :
how! (7) by-the-tresses being-held-captive
V \V
king like-the-tapestry
riKT : 0''ji3?n3 nsnx n?jathis (8) with-the-delights love you-are-pleasing and-how! you-are-beautiful
-ibnbT T :
to-palm
ntnN ^&n3*r-: I T T :
ill-take-hold on-palm-tree
]s|n Y""?
to-cluslers-of-fruit
vroaoaAT " 8 •
of-fruits-of-him
nni
• V-T ;
and-breasts-of-you
nna^iJT : IT
she-is-like
I-will-climb
NO
stature-of-you
; T
I-said (9)
•rnn
and-fragrance-of the-vine like-clusters-of breasts-of-you now! and-may-they-be
Dian ]''''3 "nam :D'̂ nisri3the-best
"•ax
I / • »
like-wine-of and-mouth-of-you (10) like-the-applcs breath-of-you
••>327^ •'nst!?Ji-i V AT.
I (11) sleepers lips-of flowing-gently as-straight-ones to-lover-of-me going
KS3 '•'in hd'? :ini?^K;n<T :
come!
V T ;
(12) desire-of-him and-for-melet-US-go lover-of-meto-lover-of-me
nnfnthe-countryside
to-the-vineyards
^:s3n
r • :
let-us-go-early (13)
:DnSD3r T : -
in-the-villages let-us-spend-night
-iiDon nns
the-blossom he-opened the-vine she-budded if let-us-see
"•-IT%•
loves-of-me
Vnn?doors-of-us
-nist
-bs^,and-at
nms)<T ; IT
an DijisnnmI-will-give there the-pomegranates they-bloomed
nn
fragrance
J* T I-
they-send-out the-mandrakes (14)
to-you
all-of
'BBS 'Tin D'5 '̂: "03 O'BIO OijOwho? (8:1) for-you I-stored-up lover-of-me old-ones and new-ones delicacies
•'-127
mother-of-me breasts-of one-nursing of-me like-brother he-could-make-you
mai -iih ni 'r"?they-would-despise not then I-would-kiss-you at-the-outside should-I-find-you
599
encircled by lilies.'Your breasts are like two
fawns,twins of a gazelle.
'Your neck is like an ivorytower.
Your eyes are the poolsofHeshbon
by the gateof Bath Rabbim.Your nose is like the tower of
Lebanonlooking toward Damascus.
'Your head crowns you likeMount Carmel.
Your hair is like royaltapestry;
the king is held captive byits tresses.
'How beautiful you are andhow pleasing,
0 love, with your delights!'Your stature is like that of the
palm,and your breastslike clusters
of fruit.•I said, "1 will climb the palm
tree;
1 will take hold of its fruit.May your breasts be likethe
clusters of the vine,the fragrance of yourbreath
like apples,and your mouth like the best
wine.
Beloved
May the wine go straight tomy lover,
flowing gently over lips andteeth.'
"I belong to my lover,and his desire is for me.
"Come, my lover, let us go tothe countryside,
let us spend the night in thevillages."
'-Letus go early to thevineyards
to^ee if the vines have"budded,
if their blossoms have opened,and if the pomegranates are
in bloom—there I will give you my
love.
"The mandrakes send out theirfragrance,
and at our door is everydelicacy,
both new and old,that I have stored up for
you, my lover.
8 If only you were to me like abrother,
who was nursed at mymother's breasts!
Then, if I found you outside,I would kiss you,and no one would despise
'9 SeptuaginI, Aquila, Vulgate and Syriac;Hebrew Zips 0/ sleepers"11 Or henna bushes
•See the r»ote on page 598.
600 SONG OF SONGS 8:1-12
n''3 -bsmother-of-me house-of to I-would-bring-you I-would-Iead-you (2) to-me
O'O^D
from-nectar-of
np-inthe-spice from-wine I-would-give-to-drink-you she-taught-me
'fK'n nqp : 'jsnand-right-arm-of-him head-of-me under Ie(t-arm-of-him (3) pomegranate-of-me
in^57n -no npm **'?i;5?nnyou-arouse not Jerusalem daughters-of you I-charge (4) she-embraces-me
nxT •'0 :rBnni!7 1:2 "dn mirn "noiI IT : V V /" vr -j " T V •/ : 1 ; *• 1
this who? (5) that-she-desires until the-love *** you-awaken and-not
rasfin nnn niin -ba nj^sino -lansn "jd n^s?the-apple-tree under lover-of-her on leaning the-desert from coming-up
nmT \t
at-there molher-of-you
Tli*? -bs Dninp •'jafheart-of-you over like-the-seal place-me! (6)
nsyp nzm rnbD nrr "^3 'hv bninD\ • IT It t - •••T - <T - !• I V : - t l-
as-Sheol unyielding love as-the-death strong for arm-of-you on like-the-seal
••ii D'D : n^nanb?^ ttfs 'Ipi n'stf-i nwpmany-ones waters (7) flame-of-Yahweh fire blazes-of blazes-of-her jealousy
ni"in3^ nint<n-nx nisD^ \hDT•DKT A : : •
:
she-conceived-you
T T<
at-there
_i*>
I-roused-you
she-bore-you she-was-in-labor
if they-can-wash-away-her not and-rivers the-love *** to-quench they-can not
rl3 nirjxa irr-a lin -b3 "ns in';to-scorn for-the-love house-of-him wealth-of all-of *** one he-gave
•"P I'?? o'lf! "I®?what? to-her not and-brcasts young to-us sister (8) at-him they-would-scorn
:n3 —13T2; ova nto. IX - \: V \ ,
if (9) for-her that-he-is-spoken for-the-day for-sister-of-us shall-we-do
"n:s3 x";! htd n-hv raa: ^ '̂'n noin/ T • V JV • : I VAT - J* T \v T /V : • • JT
we-will-enclose she door and-if silver tower-of on-her we-will-build she wall
w nib-ja? niiin'js tnK mb n^bsthus like-the-towers and-breasts-of-me wall I (10) cedar panel-of to-her
: Dlbz; nxsittD rrrn V'JJDID
he-was vineyard (11) contentment like-one-bringing in-eyes-of-him I-became
D-i3n -ns p jiSn bspa niibpbto-the-ones-being-tcnants the-vineyard *** he-let-out Hamon in-Baal to-Solomon
'a-j? t^os ins? K?; ^vineyard-of-me (12) silver thousand-of for-fruit-of-him he-would-bring each
me.
'J would lead youand bring you to my
mother's house-she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wineto drink,
the nectar of mypomegranates.
'His left arm is under my headand his right arm embraces
me.
^Daughters of Jerusalem, Icharge you:
Do not arouse or awakenlove
until it so desires.
Friends
'Who is this coming up fromthe desert
leaning on her lover?
Beloved
Under the apple tree I rousedyou;
there your mother conceivedyou,
there she who was in laborgave you birth.
Tlace me like a seal over yourheart,
like a seal over your arm;for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy" unyielding asthe grave.*
It bums like blazing fire,like a mighty flame.'
'Many waters cannot quenchlove;
rivers cannot wash it away.If one were to give
all the wealth of his housefor love,
it' would be utterly scorned.
Friends
•We have a young sister,and her breasts are not yet
grown.
What shall we do for our sisterfor the day she is spoken
for?
'If she is a wall,we will build towers of
silver on her.If she is a door,
we wrill enclose her withpanels of cedar.
Beloved
'®I am a wall,and my breasts are like
towers.
Thus I have become in hiseyes
like one bringingcontentment.
"Solomon had a vineyard inBaal Hamon;
he let out his vineyard totenants.
Each was to bring for its fruita thousand shekels' of
silver.
"6 Or ardor '6 Hebrew Sheo!^6 Or / like the very flame of the Lord17 Or hem That is, about 25 pounds (about 11.5kilograms); also in verse 12
and-two-hundredsSolomonfor-you
SONGOFSONGS8:12-14
ATT;VV
before-methat-to-me
r::
for-ones-tending
the-thousand
•"•aa?
in-the-gardens
in"i3 j':
come-away!
I??"?to-young-deer-of
:DTOn rT;
spices
nn^vn VJ*/"
the-one-dwelling(13)
:r"i3 I!•
fruit-of-him
-m
(14)let-hear-me!to-voice-of-youones-attendingfriends
<
or
•I•
to-gazelle
nnT
mountains-of
ilVto-you
-riDii ••:I
and-be-like!
'TiTlover-of-me
the-stags
601
"Butmyownvineyardisminetogive;
thethousandshekelsareforyou,OSolomon,
andtwohundred'areforthosewhotenditsfruit.
Lover
"Youwhodwellinthegardenswithfriendsinattendance,letmehearyourvoice!
Beloved
"Comeaway,mylover,andbelikeagazelle
orlikeayoungstagonthespice-laden
mountains.
»I2Thatis.about5pounds(about2.3kilograms)