1 The Song of songs, which is Solomon's. Beloved 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine. 3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, therefore the virgins love you. 4 Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you. 5 I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar's tents, like Solomon's curtains. 6 Don't stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother's sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven't kept my own vineyard. 7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions? Lover 8 If you don't know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds' tents. 9 I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh's chariots. 10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. 11 We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver. Beloved 12 While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. 13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts. 14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi. Lover 15 Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves. Beloved 16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant. Lover 17 The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs. Beloved
The bride's love to her spouse, Song 1:1-5. She conffieuses her unworthiness; desires to be directed to the flock, Song 1:6, Song 1:7; and she is directed to the shepherds' tents, Song 1:8. The bridegroom describes his bride, and shows how he will provide for her, and how comfortably they are accommodated, Song 1:9-17.
In this chapter, after the general title of the book, Song 1:1, 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; having tasted of his love, smelt a sweet savour in his grace, and enjoyed fellowship with him in his house, Song 1:2. She observes her blackness and uncomeliness in herself; the trials and afflictions she met with from others; and her carelessness and negligence of her own affairs, Song 1:5; 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; gives her proper instructions where to find him, Song 1:7; and commends her beauty; sets forth her amiableness and loveliness, by various metaphors; and makes promises of more grace and good things to her, Song 1:9. And then 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 camphire, Song 1:12. Christ again praises her beauty; and particularly takes notice of her eyes, and her modest look, Song 1:15; 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, Song 1:16.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.