The Beauty of the BelovedD? 1Turn, turn, O Shulammite!* turn, turn that we may gaze upon you! W How can you gaze upon the Shulammite as at the dance of the two camps? M 2How beautiful are your feet in sandals,* O noble daughter! Your curving thighs like jewels, the product of skilled hands. 3Your valley,* a round bowl that should never lack mixed wine. Your belly, a mound of wheat, encircled with lilies. 4a Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. 5b Your neck like a tower of ivory; your eyes, pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose like the tower of Lebanon that looks toward Damascus.* 6Your head rises upon you like Carmel;* your hair is like purple; a king is caught in its locks. Love’s Desires7How beautiful you are, how fair, my love, daughter of delights! 8Your very form resembles a date-palm,* and your breasts, clusters. 9I thought, “Let me climb the date-palm! Let me take hold of its branches! Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine and the fragrance of your breath like apples, 10And your mouth like the best wine— W that flows down smoothly for my lover, gliding* over my lips and teeth. his yearning is for me. 12Come, my lover! Let us go out to the fields, let us pass the night among the henna. 13d Let us go early to the vineyards, and see if the vines are in bloom, If the buds have opened, if the pomegranates have blossomed; There will I give you my love. 14The mandrakes* give forth fragrance, and over our doors are all choice fruits; Fruits both fresh and dried, my lover, have I kept in store for you. Book IntroductionFootnotesScripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Bible Hub |