The Bride Confesses Her Love

(Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

1The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for your love is better than wine.

3Because of the smell of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love you.

The Friends

4Draw me, we will run after you: the king has brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine: the upright love you.

The Bride

5I am black, but comely, O you daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

6Look not on me, because I am black, because the sun has looked on me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard have I not kept.

7Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you make your flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks of your companions?

Solomon Speaks

8If you know not, O you fairest among women, go your way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents.

9I have compared you, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.

10Your cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, your neck with chains of gold.

The Friends

11We will make you borders of gold with studs of silver.

The Bride

12While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth the smell thereof.

13A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved to me; he shall lie all night between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.

Solomon

15Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair; you have doves' eyes.

The Bride

16Behold, you are fair, my beloved, yes, pleasant: also our bed is green.

Solomon

17The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.