Chapter 1.

In this chapter, after the general title of the book, verse 1, the church expresses her strong desires and most ardent wishes for some fresh discoveries of the love of Christ to her, and for communion with him, verse 2, and having tasted of his love, and smelled a sweet savor in his grace, and enjoyed fellowship with him in his house, verses 3, 4, she observes her blackness and uncomeliness in herself, and comeliness in him, the trials and afflictions she met with from others, and her carelessness and negligence of her own affairs, verse 5, 6, and entreats her beloved to direct her, where she might meet with him feeding his flocks and giving them rest; to which he returns a kind and gracious answer, and gives proper instructions where to find him, verses 7, 8, and then commends her beauty, sets forth her amiableness and loveliness by various metaphors, and makes promises of more grace and good things to her, verses 9, 10, 11, when she declares what a value she had for Christ her beloved; and how precious he was unto her, like a bundle of myrrh, and a cluster of camphor, verses 12, 13, 14, and Christ again praises her beauty, and particularly takes notice of her eyes, and her modest look, verse 15, and she returns the encomium back to him, and expresses her pleasure and satisfaction in the house he had built for her, and the furniture of it, verses 16, 17.

VERSE 1.

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.

VERSE 2.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth;
for thy love is better than wine.

VERSE 3.

Because of the savor of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured
forth; therefore do the virgins love thee\

VERSE 4.

Draw me, we will run after thee: The King hath brought me into his
chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in thee: We will remember
thy love more than wine; The upright love thee.

VERSE 5.

I am black, but comely; O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

VERSE 6.

Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath
looked upon me: My mother's children were angry with me; they
made me the keeper of the vineyards but mine own vineyard
have I not kept.

VERSE 7.

Tell me, (O thou whom my soul loveth), where thou feedest, where
thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon: For why should I be as one
that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions.

VERSE 8.

If thou know not (O thou fairest among women!) go thy way forth
by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds
tents.

VERSE 9.

I have compared thee, O my love, to a company
of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.

VERSE 10.

Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

VERSE 11.

We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

VERSE 12.

While the King sitteth at his table,
my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

VERSE 13.

A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me;
he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.