Bible in 90 Days

A Time for Everything

3 There is a special time for everything. There is a time for everything that happens under heaven. ² There is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pick what is planted. ³ There is a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. ⁴ There is a time to cry, and a time to laugh; a time to have sorrow, and a time to dance. ⁵ There is a time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to kiss, and a time to turn from kissing. ⁶ There is a time to try to find, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away. ⁷ There is a time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; a time to be quiet, and a time to speak. ⁸ There is a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The God-Given Work

⁹ What does the worker get for his work? ¹⁰ I have seen the work which God has given the sons of men to do. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has put thoughts of the forever in man’s mind, yet man cannot understand the work God has done from the beginning to the end.

¹² I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good as long as they live. ¹³ And I know that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his work. It is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will last forever. There is nothing to add to it, and nothing to take from it. God works so that men will honor Him with fear. ¹⁵ That which is, already has been. And that which will be, has already been. For God allows the same things to happen again.

Sin Is Everywhere

¹⁶ Also I have seen under the sun that in the place of what is right and fair there is sin. And in the place of what is right and good there is wrong-doing. ¹⁷ I said to myself, “God will judge both the man who is right and good, and the sinful man.” For there is a time for everything to be done and a time for every work. ¹⁸ I said to myself about the sons of men, “God is testing them to show them that they are like animals.” ¹⁹ For the same thing is to happen to both the sons of men and animals. As one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and to be a man is no better than to be an animal. Because all is for nothing. ²⁰ All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. ²¹ Who knows that the spirit of man goes up and the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth? ²² So I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his work, for that is all he can do. Who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

4 Then I saw all the bad powers that were ruling under the sun. I saw the tears of the people who were suffering under these powers, with no one to comfort them. Those who made it hard for them had the power. But the people had no one to comfort them. ² So I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those who are still living. ³ But better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is done under the sun.

⁴ I have seen that all the work done is because a man wants what his neighbor has. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind. ⁵ The fool folds his hands and has no food to eat. ⁶ One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of work and trying to catch the wind.

⁷ Then I looked again at what is of no use under the sun. ⁸ There was a certain man who lived alone. He did not have a son or a brother. Yet he worked all the time. His eyes were never happy with the riches he had, and he never asked, “For whom am I working and why am I keeping myself from happiness?” This also is for nothing. It is work that brings sorrow.

A True Friend

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work. ¹⁰ For if one of them falls, the other can help him up. But it is hard for the one who falls when there is no one to lift him up. ¹¹ And if two lie down together, they keep warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² One man is able to have power over him who is alone, but two can stand against him. It is not easy to break a rope made of three strings.

¹³ A poor and wise boy is better than an old and foolish king who will no longer listen to words of wisdom. ¹⁴ A man can come out of prison to become king, even if he was born poor in his nation. ¹⁵ I have seen all the living under the sun gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place. ¹⁶ There was no end to all the people. He ruled over all of them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. For this also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

Do What You Promise

5 Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning. ² Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few. ³ For a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with many words. ⁴ When you make a promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay! ⁵ It is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth cause you to sin. And do not say to the one sent from God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you said, and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For when there are many dreams, there are many empty words. Instead of this, honor God with fear.

Money and Honor Are of Little Worth

⁸ In one part of a land if you see a bad power held over the poor, and what is right and fair and good taken away, do not be surprised by what you see. For one leader watches over another leader, and more important leaders watch over them. ⁹ After all, a country does better with a king in power.

¹⁰ He who loves money will never have enough money to make him happy. It is the same for the one who loves to get many things. This also is for nothing. ¹¹ When there are more good things, there are also more people to eat them. So what does their owner get except to see them with his eyes? ¹² The sleep of the working man is pleasing, if he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not let him sleep.

¹³ There is something very wrong which I have seen under the sun: Riches being kept by the owner and he is hurt by them. ¹⁴ When those riches are lost because he used them in a wrong way, and he had become the father of a son, there was nothing left for him. ¹⁵ A man comes from his mother without clothing, and he will go as he came. He will take nothing from his work that he can carry in his hand. ¹⁶ This also is very wrong: As a man is born, this is the way he will leave. So what does the man get who works for the wind? ¹⁷ All his life he eats in darkness with much sorrow, sickness and anger.

¹⁸ This is what I have seen to be good and right: to eat and to drink and be happy in all the work one does under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him. For this is his reward. ¹⁹ As for every man to whom God has given riches and many good things, He has also given him the power to eat from them, receive his reward and be happy in his work. This is the gift of God. ²⁰ For he will not think much about the years of his life, because God keeps him happy in his heart.

6 There is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for men: ² God gives a man riches and many good things and honor, so that he has everything he wants. But He does not allow him to have joy from them, for a stranger has joy from them. This is for nothing, and is very bad. ³ If a man becomes the father of a hundred children and lives many years until he is very old, but he is not happy with good things, and is not buried as he should be, then I say that the child who dies before it is born is shown more favor than he. ⁴ For this child comes for nothing and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. ⁵ It never sees the sun and it never knows anything. It is better off than he. ⁶ Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not find joy in good things, do not all go to the same place?

⁷ All a man’s work is for his mouth, and yet his hunger is not filled. ⁸ For what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living? ⁹ What the eyes see is better than what there is a desire for. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

¹⁰ Whatever has come to be has already been given a name. It is known what man is, and that he cannot argue with one who is stronger than he. ¹¹ The more words there are, the more they are worth nothing. What good is that to anyone? ¹² For who knows what is good for a man during his life, during the few years of his living for nothing? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will happen after he is gone under the sun?

Wisdom Is Worth a Lot

7 A good name is better than oil of much worth. And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. ² It is better to go to a house of sorrow than to go to a house of much eating. For this is the end of all men, and the living takes it to heart. ³ To have sorrow is better than to laugh because when a face is sad, the heart may become strong. ⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of sorrow, while the heart of fools is in the house where there is fun. ⁵ It is better to listen to the sharp words of a wise man than to listen to the song of fools. ⁶ For the laughing of a fool is like the sound of a thorn bush burning under a pot. This also is for nothing. ⁷ For sure a bad power makes the wise man angry. And to get paid in secret for wrong-doing destroys the heart. ⁸ The end of something is better than its beginning. Not giving up in spirit is better than being proud in spirit. ⁹ Do not be quick in spirit to be angry. For anger is in the heart of fools. ¹⁰ Do not say, “Why were the days of the past better than these?” For it is not wise to ask this. ¹¹ Wisdom with a gift passed down from father to son is good and a help to those who see the sun. ¹² For wisdom keeps one from danger just as money keeps one from danger. But the good thing about much learning is that wisdom keeps alive those who have it. ¹³ Think of the work of God, for who is able to make straight what He has not made straight? ¹⁴ In the day of well-being be happy. But in the day of trouble, think about this: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man can never know what is going to happen.

¹⁵ In the days of my life I have seen everything, but my life has been worth nothing. There is a right and good man who is destroyed while he is right and good. And there is a sinful man who lives long in his wrong-doing. ¹⁶ Do not be too right and good, and do not be too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? ¹⁷ Do not be too sinful, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? ¹⁸ It is good that you take hold of one thing, and do not let go of the other. For the one who fears God will have both of them.

¹⁹ Wisdom gives more strength to a wise man than ten rulers have in a city. ²⁰ For sure there is not a right and good man on earth who always does good and never sins. ²¹ Do not listen to all the things that are said, or you might hear your servant cursing you. ²² For you know in your heart that many times you have cursed others.

²³ I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. ²⁴ Wisdom has been far away and hidden. Who can find it? ²⁵ I turned my mind to know, to find out, and to look for wisdom and the reason of things, and to know how sinful it is to be foolish, and that being mad is foolish. ²⁶ And I found that the woman whose heart is traps and nets, and whose hands are chains is more bitter than death. He who pleases God will get away from her. But the sinner will be taken in by her.

²⁷ “See, I have found this out,” says the Preacher. “I have added one thing to another to find the reason, ²⁸ which I am still looking for but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these. ²⁹ See, I have found only this, that God made men right, but they have found many sinful ways.”

8 Who is like the wise man? And who understands the meaning of anything? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine. The hard look on his face is changed.

Obey the King

² I say, “Obey the words of the king because of the promise you made to God. ³ Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in wrong-doing, for he will do whatever he pleases.” ⁴ Since the king’s word is powerful, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

⁵ He who obeys the king’s law will have no trouble, for a wise heart knows the right time and way. ⁶ For there is a right time and way for everything, even if a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. ⁷ If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? ⁸ No man has the right and power to hold back the wind with the wind, or power over the day of his death. No man is free to leave in the time of war. And sin will not take the sinner out of trouble. ⁹ All this I have seen while thinking about every work that has been done under the sun. There is a time when one man has power over another man and makes him suffer.

Death Comes to Everyone

¹⁰ Then I saw the sinful buried, who used to go in and out of the holy place. They are soon forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is for nothing. ¹¹ Because a sinful act is not punished in a hurry, so the hearts of the sons of men are given completely over to sin. ¹² Even though a sinner does sinful things a hundred times and lives a long time, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, and let others know they fear God. ¹³ But it will not go well for the sinful man. His days will not be long like a shadow, because he does not fear God. ¹⁴ There is something that is of no use on the earth: There are right and good men who have the same thing happen to them that happens to those who do sinful things. And there are sinful men who have the same thing happen to them that happens to those who are right and good. I say this also is for nothing. ¹⁵ So I say a man should enjoy himself. For there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and drink and be happy. For this will be with him in his work through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

¹⁶ I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the work which has been done on the earth, not sleeping day or night. ¹⁷ And I saw all the work of God and knew that man cannot even think of all that is done under the sun. Even if man tries hard to find out, he will not be able to. Even if a wise man says he knows, he does not.

9 For I have thought of all this, how good and wise men and their works are in the hand of God. Man does not know if love or hate is waiting for them.

² It is the same for all. The same thing will happen to both the man who is good and the man who is sinful. The same thing will happen to the clean and the unclean, and to the man who gives a gift on the altar and to the man who does not. As the good man is, so is the sinner. As the man who swears is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. ³ This is a bad thing in all that is done under the sun, that the same thing happens to all men. Also the hearts of men are sinful and crazy all their lives. Then they join the dead. ⁴ But there is hope for the one who is among the living. For sure a live dog is better off than a dead lion. ⁵ For the living know they will die. But the dead know nothing, and they will receive nothing further, for they are forgotten. ⁶ Their love and hate and desire have already died. They will no longer have a part in what is done under the sun.

⁷ Go and eat your bread in happiness. Drink your wine with a happy heart. For God has already been pleased with your works. ⁸ Let your clothes be white all the time. And let there always be oil on your head. ⁹ Enjoy life with the woman you love all the days of your life that will soon be over. God has given you these days under the sun. This is the good you will get in life and in your work which you have done under the sun.

¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength. For there is no work or planning or learning or wisdom in the place of the dead where you are going. ¹¹ Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the fast and the battle to the men of war. Bread is not to the wise and riches are not to the men of understanding. Favor is not to able workers. Time comes and goes and things happen for no reason to them all. ¹² Man does not know his time. Like fish caught in a bad net, and birds caught in a trap, so men are trapped at a bad time when trouble comes upon them when they do not expect it.

Wisdom Is Better Than Being Foolish

¹³ I have also seen this as wisdom under the sun, and it made me think. ¹⁴ There was a small city with few men in it, and a great king came to it. His army gathered around it and built a large wall to help them in battle against it. ¹⁵ But a poor wise man was found in the city, and he brought the city out of its trouble by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is hated and his words are not carried out. ¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the loud words of a ruler among fools. ¹⁸ Wisdom is better than objects used in war, but one sinner destroys much good.

10 Dead flies make a perfume maker’s oil smell bad. So does acting a little foolish weigh more than wisdom and honor. ² A wise man’s heart leads him toward the right. But the foolish man’s heart leads him toward the left. ³ Even when the fool walks on the road, he has little understanding and shows everyone that he is a fool. ⁴ If the ruler becomes angry with you, do not back away. If you are quiet, much wrong-doing may be put aside.

⁵ There is a sin I have seen under the sun, like a mistake done by a ruler: ⁶ Fools are put in many places of honor, while rich men sit in places that are not important. ⁷ I have seen servants riding on horses, and princes walking like servants on the land.

⁸ He who digs a deep hole may fall into it. And a snake may bite him who breaks through a wall. ⁹ He who cuts stones may be hurt by them. And he who cuts trees may be in danger by them. ¹⁰ If the ax is not sharp and he does not make it sharp, then he must use more strength. Wisdom helps one to do well. ¹¹ If the snake bites before it is put under a man’s power, it will not be of help to the man who would have power over it. ¹² The words of a wise man’s mouth are kind, but the lips of a fool destroy him. ¹³ The beginning of his talking is foolish, and the end of it is sinful and crazy. ¹⁴ Yet the fool speaks many words. No man knows what will happen. And who can tell him what will come after him? ¹⁵ The work of a fool makes him so tired that he does not even know the way to a city. ¹⁶ It is bad for you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes eat too much in the morning. ¹⁷ Happy are you, O land, when your king is from parents who have ruled, and your princes eat at the right time, for strength and not to get drunk. ¹⁸ When men are lazy, the roof begins to fall in. When they will do no work, the rain comes into the house. ¹⁹ Food is made ready to be enjoyed, wine makes life happy, but money is the answer to everything. ²⁰ Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich man in your bedroom because a bird of the heavens will carry your voice and an animal with wings will make it known.

The Ways of a Wise Man

11 Throw your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. ² Share what you have with seven, or even with eight, for you do not know what trouble may come on the earth. ³ If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. And if a tree falls to the south or to the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. ⁴ He who watches the wind will not plant his seeds. And he who looks at the clouds will not gather the food. ⁵ Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how the bones are made of a child yet to be born, so you do not know the work of God Who makes all things. ⁶ Plant your seeds in the morning, and do not be lazy in the evening. You do not know which will grow well, the morning or evening planting, or if both of them alike will do well.

⁷ Light is pleasing. It is good for the eyes to see the sun. ⁸ If a man should live many years, let him have joy in them all. Yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is for nothing.

What Young People Should Do

⁹ Young man, be filled with joy while you are young. And let your heart be happy while you are a young man. Follow the ways of your heart and the desires of your eyes. But know that God will judge you for all these things. ¹⁰ So put away trouble from your heart, and put away pain from your body. Because the years when you were a child and the best years of your life are going by fast.

12 Remember also your Maker while you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years when you will say, “I have no joy in them,” ² before the sun, the light, the moon and the stars are made dark, and clouds return after the rain. ³ This will be the day when the men who watch the house shake in fear. Strong men bow. Those who grind will stop because they are few. And the eyes of those who look through windows will not see well. ⁴ The doors on the street will be shut when the sound of the grinding is no more. One will rise up at the sound of a bird. All the daughters of song will sing very low. ⁵ Men will be afraid of a high place and of fears on the road. Flowers will grow on the almond tree. The grasshopper will pull himself along. And desire will be at an end. For man will go to his home that lasts forever, while people filled with sorrow go about in the street. ⁶ Remember Him before the silver rope of life is broken and the gold dish is crushed. Remember Him before the pot by the well is broken and the wheel by the water-hole is crushed. ⁷ Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. And the spirit will return to God Who gave it. ⁸ “It is of no use,” says the Preacher, “It is all for nothing!”

The Preacher’s Last Words

⁹ Besides being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people much learning. He thought about, and looked for, and put together many wise sayings. ¹⁰ The Preacher looked to find pleasing words and to write words of truth in the right way.

¹¹ The words of wise men are like a stick. Their gathered sayings are like well-driven nails given by one Shepherd. ¹² But more than this, my son, be careful. There is no end to the writing of many books and reading many of them makes the body tired.

¹³ The last word, after all has been heard, is: Honor God and obey His Laws. This is all that every person must do. ¹⁴ For God will judge every act, even everything which is hidden, both good and bad.

1 The Song of Songs, the most beautiful of them all, which is Solomon’s.

The First Song

The Woman

² “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. ³ Your oils have a pleasing smell. Your name is like oil poured out. So the young women love you. ⁴ Take me away with you, and let us run together. The king has brought me into his room.

“We will have joy and be glad because of you. We will praise your love more than wine. They are right to love you.

⁵ “I am dark but beautiful, O people of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. ⁶ Do not look hard at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me, and made me take care of the grape-fields. But I have not taken care of my own grape-field. ⁷ Tell me, O you whom my soul loves. In what field do you feed your flock? Where do your sheep lie down at noon? Why should I need to look for you beside the flocks of your friends?”

King Solomon

⁸ “If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the path of the flock. And let your young goats eat in the field beside the tents of the shepherds.

⁹ “To me, my love, you are like my horse among the war-wagons of Pharaoh. ¹⁰ Your face is beautiful with the objects you wear, and your neck with the beautiful chain around it. ¹¹ We will make objects of gold and silver for you.”

The Woman

¹² “While the king was at his table, my perfume gave out its smell. ¹³ My loved one is like a jar of perfume to me, who lies all night between my breasts. ¹⁴ My loved one is to me like many henna flowers, in the grape-fields of Engedi.”

King Solomon

¹⁵ “How beautiful you are, my love! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.”

The Woman

¹⁶ “How beautiful you are, my love, and so pleasing! Our bed is green. ¹⁷ The pillars of our house are cedars. The pieces on our roof are pine.

2 “I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.”

King Solomon

² “Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the young women.”

The Woman

³ “Like a fruit tree among many trees, so is my loved one among the young men. With much joy I sat down in his shadow. And his fruit was sweet to my taste. ⁴ He brought me to his special large room for eating, and his colors over me were love. ⁵ Make me strong with cakes of dried grapes. Make me strong again with fruit, because I am sick with love. ⁶ Let his left hand be under my head and his right hand hold me close.”

King Solomon

⁷ “I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and deer of the field, you must not wake up my love until it is pleasing to her.”

The Second Song

The Woman

⁸ “Listen, it is the voice of my loved one! See, he is coming! He is running over the mountains, jumping across the hills. ⁹ My love is like a gazelle or a young deer. See, he is standing behind our wall. He is looking through the windows, through the wood cross-pieces.

¹⁰ “My love speaks and says to me, ‘Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me. ¹¹ For see, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone. ¹² The flowers are coming through the ground. The time for singing has come. The voice of the turtle-dove has been heard in our land. ¹³ The fig tree has its fruits. The flowers on the vines spread their sweet smell. Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me! ¹⁴ O my dove, hidden in the rock, in the secret place in the mountain-side, let me see you. Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and you are beautiful.

¹⁵ ‘Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are destroying our grape-fields, for the flowers are on the vines. ¹⁶ My love is mine, and I am his. He lets his flock eat among the lilies. ¹⁷ Until the morning comes and the shadows hurry away, turn, my love. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.’”

The Woman

3 “On my bed night after night I looked for him whom my soul loves. I looked for him but did not find him. ² ‘I must get up now and go about the city, in the streets and in the open places. I must look for him whom my soul loves.’ I looked for him but did not find him. ³ The men who watch over the city found me, and I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ ⁴ I had just passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held on to him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to my mother’s house, and into the room of her who gave birth to me.”

King Solomon

⁵ “I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the deer of the field, you must not wake up my love until it is pleasing to her.”

The Third Song

The Woman

⁶ “What is this coming up from the desert like smoke? It has the smell of special perfumes, with all the perfumes of the traders. ⁷ See, it is the traveling wagon of Solomon. Sixty of the strong men of Israel are around it. ⁸ All of them use the sword and are very able in war. Each man has his sword at his side, keeping watch against trouble in the night. ⁹ King Solomon has made for himself a beautiful wagon from the wood of Lebanon. ¹⁰ He made its long pieces of silver, its back of gold, and its seat of purple cloth. The inside of it was made beautiful by the daughters of Jerusalem. ¹¹ Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look at King Solomon as he wears the crown his mother put on his head on the day of his wedding, on the day his heart was glad.”

King Solomon

4 “How beautiful you are, my love! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your face-covering. Your hair is like a flock of goats coming down from Mount Gilead. ² Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that have just had their wool cut and have come up from their washing. All have given birth to two lambs, and not one among them has lost her young. ³ Your lips are like a bright red string. Your mouth is beautiful. The sides of your face are like a piece of a pomegranate under your covering. ⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David, built with beauty. On it hang a thousand battle-coverings, the coverings of men of war. ⁵ Your two breasts are like two young deer, the two young ones of a gazelle, that eat among the lilies. ⁶ Until the morning comes and the shadows hurry away, I will go to the mountain of perfume plants, to the hill of special perfume.

⁷ “You are all beautiful, my love. You are perfect. ⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. May you come with me from Lebanon. Travel down from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the homes of lions, from the mountain homes of leopards. ⁹ You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride. You have made my heart beat faster with one look from your eyes, with one piece of the beautiful chain around your neck. ¹⁰ How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the sweet smell of your oils than all kinds of spices! ¹¹ Honey comes from your lips, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. And the sweet smell of your clothing is like the smell of Lebanon. ¹² A garden closed and locked is my sister, my bride, a garden shut up and covered over. ¹³ Your young branches are a garden of pomegranates with all the best fruits, henna with nard plants. ¹⁴ There is nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices. ¹⁵ You are a garden well, a well of flowing water, and rivers coming from Lebanon.”

The Woman

¹⁶ “Wake up, O north wind! Come, south wind! Blow upon my garden so the sweet smells will spread far. May my loved one come into his garden and eat its best fruits.”

King Solomon

5 “I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my perfume with my spice. I have eaten my honey and the comb. I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat and drink, friends. Drink much, O lovers.”

The Fourth Song

The Woman

² “I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My love was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is wet from the water on the grass in the early morning. My hair is wet from the night.’ ³ I have taken off my dress. How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them dirty again? ⁴ My love put his hand through the opening, and joy filled my heart. ⁵ I got up to let my love in, and perfume fell from my hands. Wet perfume fell from my fingers onto the lock. ⁶ I opened the door to my love, but he had already gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I looked for him, but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer me. ⁷ The watchmen of the city found me. They beat me and hurt me. The watchmen of the walls took my coat from me. ⁸ I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my loved one, you must tell him that I am weak with love.”

Women of Jerusalem

⁹ “What is your loved one more than another loved one, O most beautiful among women? What is your loved one more than another loved one, that you tell us to do this?”

The Woman

¹⁰ “My loved one is bright and red, the best among 10,000. ¹¹ His head is like gold, pure gold. His hair has waves and is black as a raven. ¹² His eyes are like doves beside rivers of water, washed in milk, and resting in their places. ¹³ His cheeks are like beds of spices, with sweet-smelling plants. His lips are like lily flowers giving off drops of perfume. ¹⁴ His hands are strong pieces of gold set with stones of much worth. His body is made of ivory set with stones of much worth. ¹⁵ His legs are pillars of clay put on bases of pure gold. He looks like Lebanon, as beautiful as the cedar trees. ¹⁶ His mouth is very sweet, everything about him is pleasing. This is my loved one and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Women of Jerusalem

6 “Where has your loved one gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your loved one turned, that we may look for him with you?”

The Woman

² “My love has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices. He has gone to feed his flock in the gardens and to gather lilies. ³ I am my love’s, and my love is mine, he who feeds his flock among the lilies.”

The Fifth Song

King Solomon

⁴ “You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my love, as beautiful as Jerusalem. You are to be feared as an army with flags. ⁵ Turn your eyes away from me, for they trouble me. Your hair is like a flock of goats that has come down from Gilead. ⁶ Your teeth are like a flock of sheep which has come up from the washing. All of them give birth to two lambs at a time, and not one of them has lost her young. ⁷ The sides of your forehead are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your face-covering. ⁸ There are sixty queens, and eighty women kept who act like wives, and there are too many young women to number who have never had a man. ⁹ But my dove, my perfect one, is special. She is her mother’s only daughter. She is the pure child of the one who gave birth to her. The young women saw her and knew she was honored. The queens and the women who act as wives praised her, saying, ¹⁰ ‘Who is this that looks out like the first light of day? She is as beautiful as the full moon, as pure as the sun. She is to be feared as an army with flags.’”

The Woman

¹¹ “I went down to the field of nut trees to see the flowers of the valley, to see if the vines or the pomegranates had flowers. ¹² Before I knew it, I wanted to be over the war-wagons of the princes of my people.”

Women of Jerusalem

¹³ “Return, return, O Shulammite! Return, return, that we may look upon you!”

The Woman

“Why should you look upon the Shulammite, as upon a dance in front of two armies?”

King Solomon

7 “How beautiful are your feet in their shoes, O daughter! Your legs are like stones of much worth, the work of an able workman. ² Your navel is like a beautiful glass full of wine. Your stomach is like gathered grain with lilies around it. ³ Your two breasts are like two young deer, the two young ones of a gazelle. ⁴ Your neck is like a tower of ivory. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus. ⁵ Your head crowns you like Carmel. Your flowing hair is like strings of purple. The king is held by the beauty of your hair. ⁶ How beautiful and how pleasing you are, my love! How happy you make me! ⁷ You stand like a palm tree. And your breasts are like its fruit. ⁸ I said, ‘I will go to the top of the palm tree. I will take hold of its branches.’ O, may your breasts be like the fruit of the vine, and the sweet smell of your breath like pleasing fruit. ⁹ And may your mouth be like the best wine.”

The Woman

“For my love, it is smooth going down, flowing through the lips while sleeping.

¹⁰ “I am my love’s, and he wants me. ¹¹ Come, my love, let us go to the country. Let us spend the night in the villages. ¹² Let us get up early and go to the grape-fields. Let us see if the buds are on the vines, and if its flowers have opened. Let us see if the pomegranates have flowers. There I will give you my love. ¹³ The mandrakes have given out their sweet smell. And over our doors are all the best fruits, both new and old, which I have saved for you, my love.

8 “O that you were like a brother to me, who nursed from my mother’s breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would hate me. ² I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, who used to teach me. I would give you wine with spices to drink, made from my pomegranates. ³ Let his left hand be under my head, and his right hand hold me close.”

King Solomon

⁴ “I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem. You must not wake up my love, until it is pleasing to her.”

The Sixth Song

Women of Jerusalem

⁵ “Who is this coming up from the desert, resting on her loved one?”

The Woman

“I woke you up under the fruit tree. There your mother suffered and gave birth to you. ⁶ Put me over your heart and on your arm, never to be taken off. For love is as strong as death. Jealousy is as hard as the grave. Its bright light is like the light of fire, the very fire of the Lord. ⁷ Many waters cannot put out love. Rivers cannot cover it. If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would all be hated.”

The Woman’s Brothers

⁸ “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What should we do for our sister on the day when she is promised in marriage? ⁹ If she is a wall, we should build on her a tower of silver. But if she is a door, we should cover her with strong pieces of cedar wood.”

The Woman

¹⁰ “I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers. Then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace.”

The Woman’s Brothers

¹¹ “Solomon has a grape-field at Baal-hamon. He put the grape-field into the care of certain men. Each one was to bring 1,000 pieces of silver for its fruit. ¹² My own grape-field is for myself. The 1,000 pieces of silver are for you, Solomon. And 200 are for those who take care of its fruit.”

¹³ “O you who sit in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice. Let me hear it.”

The Woman

¹⁴ “Hurry, my love. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.”