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 thy love is better than wine.

3Thine ointments savour sweetly; Thy name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love thee.

The Friends

4Draw 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. They love thee uprightly.

The Bride

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

6Look 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 keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.

7Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest it to rest at noon; For why should I be as one veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?

Solomon Speaks

8If thou know not, thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' booths.

9I compare thee, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh's chariots.

10Thy cheeks are comely with bead-rows, Thy neck with ornamental chains.

The Friends

11We will make thee bead-rows of gold With studs of silver.

The Bride

12While the king is at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.

13A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He shall pass the night between my breasts.

14My beloved is unto me a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of Engedi.

Solomon

15Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are doves.

The Bride

16Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; Also our bed is green.

Solomon

17The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters are cypresses.