Bible in 90 Days
3 To all things there is an appointed time, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot that which is planted,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to be far from embracing,
6 a time to seek and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,
7 a time to tear and a time to sow, a time to keep silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace.
9 What profit does the worker have from the thing in which he works?
10 I have seen the work that God has given to the sons of men by which to humble them.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set the world in their heart, yet man cannot find out the work that God has done from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for him than to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man eats and drinks and sees the good of all his labor. This is the gift of God.
14 I know that whatever God shall do, it shall be forever. No man can add to it, and from it no one can subtract. For God has done it so that they would fear before Him.
15 Whatever has already been, is now. And whatever shall be, has already been. For God requires that which is past.
16 And moreover, I have seen the place of judgment under the Sun, where wickedness was, and the place of justice, where iniquity was.
17 I thought in my heart, “God will judge the just and the wicked. For there is a time for every purpose and for every work.”
18 I considered the state of the children of men in my heart, that God had examined them, so that they too see themselves as beasts.
19 For the condition of the children of men and the condition of beasts is the same, as the one dies so dies the other. For they all have one breath. And there is no excellency of man above beast. For all is vanity.
20 All go to one place. And all were of the dust. And all shall return to the dust.
21 Who knows whether the spirit of man ascends upward, and the spirit of the beast descends downward to the earth?
22 Therefore, I see that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his affairs, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
4 So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the Sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed. And no one comforts them. And lo, the strength is in the hand of those who oppress them. Yet no one comforts them.
2 Therefore, I praised the dead who are already dead above the living who are still alive.
3 And I count him who has not even been born as better than them both. For he has not seen the evil works which are wrought under the Sun.
4 Also I beheld all work, and all perfection of work, and that this is the envy of a man against his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping at the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and grasping at the wind.
7 Again I returned and saw vanity under the Sun.
8 There is one who has neither son nor brother. And there is no second. Still, there is no end of all his travail. Nor can his eye be satisfied with riches. Nor does he think, “For whom do I travail and defraud my soul of pleasures?” This also is vanity. This is an evil travail.
9 Two are better than one. They have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone. For he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.
11 Also if two sleep together, then they shall have heat. But how would there be heat for one?
12 And though one is overcome, two shall stand. And a threefold cord is not easily broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king who will no longer be admonished.
14 For he comes forth to reign from prison, though he was born poor in his kingdom.
15 I beheld all the living who walk under the Sun with the second child, who shall stand up in his place.
16 There is no end of all the people who were before them. And those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this is also vanity and grasping at the wind.
17 Guard your step when you enter into the House of God and be near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they do not know that they do evil.
5 Do not be rash with your mouth, or let your heart be hasty to utter a thing before God. For God is in Heaven and you are on the Earth. Therefore, let your words be few.
2 For as a dream comes by the multitude of business, so the voice of a fool is in the multitude of words.
3 When you have vowed a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For He does not delight in fools. Pay what you have promised.
4 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay it.
5 Do not allow your mouth to make your flesh sin, nor say before the Angel that this is ignorance. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
6 For in the multitude of dreams and vanities are also many words. But fear God.
7 If in a country you see the oppression of the poor and the defrauding of judgment and justice, do not be astonished at the matter. For He who is higher than the highest watches. And there is higher than they.
8 And the abundance of the Earth is for all. The king also subsists on the field that is tilled.
9 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver. And he who loves riches shall be without its fruit. This is also vanity.
10 When goods increase, those who consume them are increased. And what good comes to their owners, but the beholding with their eyes?
11 The sleep of him who travails is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the satiety of the rich will not allow him to sleep.
12 There is an evil sickness that I have seen under the Sun: riches reserved to their owners for their evil.
13 And these riches perish by evil travail. And when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
14 As he came forth from his mother’s belly, he shall return, naked, to go as he came, and shall carry away nothing from his labor which he has caused to pass by his hand.
15 And this also is an evil sickness: in all points, as he came so shall he go. And what profit does he have who has labored for the wind?
16 Also, all his days he eats in darkness with much grief, and in his sorrow and anger.
17 Behold, then, what I have seen as good: that it is comely to eat and to drink and to take pleasure in all his labor in which he labors under the Sun, the whole number of the days of his life which God gives him. For this is his portion.
18 Also, to every man to whom God has given riches and treasures, to whom He gives power to eat of it, and to take his part, and to enjoy his labor — these are the gifts of God.
19 Surely, he will not well remember the days of his life, because God answers to the joy of his heart.
6 There is an evil which I saw under the Sun, and it is much among men:
2 a man to whom God has given riches and treasures and honor, and he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires. But God does not give him power to eat of them, but a strange man eats them up. This is vanity. And this is an evil sickness.
3 If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, and the days of his years are multiplied, and his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he is not buried, I say that a miscarriage is better than he.
4 For he comes into vanity and goes into darkness. And his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Also he has neither seen the Sun nor known it. This has more rest than the other,
6 even if he had lived a thousand years, twice, and still had seen no good. Shall not all go to one place?
7 All the labor of man is for his mouth. Yet the soul is not filled.
8 For what more has the wise man than the fool? What has the poor who knows how to walk before the living?
9 The sight of the eye is better than to walk in lusts. This also is vanity and grasping at the wind.
10 Whatever has been is now named. And it is known that it is man. And he cannot strive with him who is stronger than he.
7 Surely there are many things that increase vanity, and how does it benefit a man?
2 For who knows what is good for man in life, in the number of the days of the life of his vanity, seeing he makes them as a shadow? For who can show a man what shall come after him under the Sun?
3 A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of death is better than the day one is born.
4 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, because this is the end of all men. And the living shall take it to heart.
5 Anger is better than laughter; for by a sad look the heart is made better.
6 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. But the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
7 Better it is to hear the rebuke of a wise man than that a man should hear the song of fools.
8 For like the noise of the thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
9 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad. And the reward destroys the heart.
10 The end of a thing is better than its beginning. To be patient in spirit is better than to be proud in spirit.
11 Do not hasten your spirit to anger. For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
12 Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely of this thing.
13 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and excellent to those who see the Sun.
14 For man shall rest in the shadow of wisdom, and in the shadow of silver. But the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom gives life to its possessors.
15 Behold the work of God. For who can make straight that which He has made crooked?
16 In the day of wealth, be of good comfort. And in the day of affliction consider this: God has also made this as opposed to that, so that man would find nothing after Him.
17 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness. And there is a wicked man who continues long in his malice.
18 Do not be overly righteous or make yourself overly wise. Why should you be desolate?
19 Be neither overly wicked nor foolish. Why should you not perish in your time?
20 It is good that you lay hold on this, but still not withdraw your hand from that. For he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
21 Wisdom shall strengthen the wise men more than ten mighty princes who are in the city.
22 Surely there is no man righteous on the Earth, who does good and does not sin.
23 Also, do not give your heart to all the words that men speak, lest you hear your servant cursing you.
24 For oftentimes, your heart also knows that you likewise have cursed others.
25 All this I have tested by wisdom. I thought, “I will be wise,” but it went far from me.
26 It is far off. What may it be? It is profoundly deep. Who can find it?
27 I have applied my heart to know and to inquire and to search wisdom and reason and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness of madness.
28 And I find the woman whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands as bands, more bitter than death. He who is good before God shall be delivered from her. But the sinner shall be taken by her.
29 “Behold,” says the preacher, “this I have found, adding one by one to find the answer.
30 “And yet my soul seeks, but I do not find it. I have found one man of a thousand. But I have not found a woman among them all.
31 “Lo, only this have I found: that God has made man righteous. But they have sought many inventions.”
8 Who is as the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man makes his face shine. And the strength of his face shall be changed.
2 I say, “Guard to the commandment of the king, and the word of your oath to God.
3 “Do not hurry to go forth from His sight. Do not stand in an evil thing. For He will do whatever pleases Him.”
4 Wherever the word of the king is, there is power. And who shall say to him, “What are you doing?”
5 He who keeps the commandment shall know no evil thing. And the heart of the wise shall know the time and judgment.
6 For to every purpose there is a time and judgment, because the misery of man is great upon him.
7 For he does not know that which shall be. For who can tell him when it shall be?
8 Man is not Lord over the spirit, to retain the spirit. Nor does he have power on the day of death or deliverance in the battle. Nor shall wickedness deliver its possessors.
9 All this have I seen and have given my heart to every work which is wrought under the Sun. And I saw a time that man rules over man to his own hurt.
10 And likewise I saw the wicked buried, and they returned. And those who came from the holy place were still forgotten in the city where they had done right. This also is vanity.
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily. Therefore, the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Even if a sinner does evil a hundred times, and God prolongs his days, I still know that it shall be well with those who fear the LORD and do reverence before Him.
13 But it shall not be well to the wicked. Nor shall he prolong his days. He shall be like a shadow, because he did not fear before God.
14 There is a vanity which is done upon the Earth, so that there are righteous men to whom it comes according to the work of the wicked. And there are wicked men to whom it comes according to the work of the righteous. I also thought that this is vanity.
15 And I praised joy. For there is no goodness to man under the Sun, except to eat and to drink and to rejoice. For this is joined to his labor during his life that God has given him under the Sun.
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to behold the business that is done on Earth — that the eyes of man takes sleep at neither day nor night —
17 then I beheld the whole work of God: that man cannot find out the work that is wrought under the Sun which man labors to seek and cannot find. Yea, and though the wise man may say he knows it, he cannot find it.
9 I have surely given my heart to all this, and to declare all this, that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the Hand of God. And no man knows either love or hatred of all that is before him.
2 All things are the same for everyone. And the same conditions are for the righteous and for the wicked, for the good and pure and for the polluted, for him who sacrifices and for him who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner, for he who swears as for he who fears an oath.
3 This is evil among all that is done under the Sun, that there is one condition for all. Also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live. And after that, they go to the dead.
4 Surely, whoever is joined to all the living has hope. For it is better to be a living dog than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing at all. Nor do they have a reward anymore. For their remembrance is forgotten.
6 Also, their love and their hatred and their envy have now perished. And they have no more part in all that is done under the Sun, forever.
7 Go. Eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a cheerful heart! For God now accepts your works.
8 At all times, let your garments be white. And do not let oil be lacking upon your head.
9 Rejoice with the wife whom you have loved all the days of the life of your vanity, whom God has given you under the Sun, all the days of your vanity. For this is your portion in life, and in your travail in which you labor under the Sun.
10 All that your hand shall find to do, do it with all your power. For there is neither work nor invention nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave where you go.
11 I returned and I saw under the Sun that the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong or bread to the wise or riches to men of understanding or favor to men of knowledge. But time and chance come to them all.
12 For man does not know his time. But as the fish which are taken in an evil net, and as the birds are caught in the snare, so are the children of men snared in the evil time when it falls upon them suddenly.
13 I have also seen this wisdom under the Sun. And it is great to me.
14 There was a little city, with few men in it. And a great king came against it and surrounded it and built siege ramps against it.
15 And there was found in the city a poor and wise man. And he delivered the city by his wisdom. But no one remembered this poor man.
16 Then I said, “Better is wisdom than strength.” Yet the wisdom of the poor is despised. And his words are not heard.
17 The words of the wise are more heard in quietness than the cry of him who rules among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war. And one who sins destroys much good.
10 Dead flies cause stink and putrefy the ointment of the apothecary. So does a little folly him who is esteemed for wisdom, and for glory.
2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand. But the heart of a fool is at his left hand.
3 And even when the fool walks along the way, his wisdom fails. And he tells everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of him who rules rises up against you, do not leave your place. For gentleness pacifies great sins.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the Sun, as an error that proceeds from the face of him who rules.
6 Folly is set in great excellency. And the rich sit in the low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses and princes walking as servants on the ground.
8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it. And he who breaks through a hedge will be bitten by a serpent.
9 He who removes stones shall hurt himself with them. He who cuts wood shall be in danger from it.
10 If the iron is blunt, and one has not sharpened the edge, he must then put more strength to it. But wisdom is the excellence to direct a thing.
11 The serpent bites when he is not charmed. A babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth have grace. But the lips of a fool devour him.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness. And the latter end of his mouth is wicked madness.
14 For the fool multiplies words. Man does not know what shall be. And who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 The labor of the foolish wearies him. For he does not know to go into the city.
16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in time, for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By slothfulness, the roof of the house goes to decay. And by the idleness of the hands, the house drops through.
19 They prepare bread for laughter. And wine comforts the living. But silver answers all.
20 Do not curse the king (even in your thought) or curse the rich (even in your bed chamber). For the bird of the heaven shall carry the voice. And that which has wings shall tell the matter.
11 Cast your bread upon the waters. For after many days, you shall find it.
2 Give one portion to seven, and also to eight. For you do not know what evil shall be upon the Earth.
3 If the clouds are full, they will pour forth rain upon the Earth. And if the tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.
4 He who observes the wind shall not sow. And he who regards the clouds, shall not reap.
5 As you do not know which is the way of the spirit, or how the bones grow in the womb of she who is with child, so you do not know the work of God, Who works all.
6 In the morning, sow your seed. And in the evening, do not let your hand rest. For you do not know which shall prosper, this or that, or whether both alike shall be good.
7 Surely, the light is a pleasant thing. And it is a good thing to the eyes to see the Sun.
8 Though a man lives many years, he rejoices in them all. Yet, he shall remember the days of darkness, because they are many. All that comes is vanity.
9 Rejoice in your youth, O young man! And let your heart cheer yourself in the days of your youth! And walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment.
10 Therefore, take away grief from your heart, and make evil depart from your flesh. For childhood and youth are vanity.
12 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days have yet to come. Nor have the years approached in which you shall say, “I have no pleasure in them,”
2 while the Sun is not dark, nor the light, nor the moon, nor the stars. Nor do the clouds return after the rain,
3 when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves and the grinders shall cease (because they are few and those who look out by the windows grow dark).
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets by the low sound of the grinding. And he shall rise up at the voice of the bird. And all the daughters of singing shall be brought low.
5 Also they shall be afraid of the high thing. And fear shall be on the way. And the almond tree shall flourish. And the grasshopper shall be a burden. And grasshopper shall be driven away. For man goes to his eternal home. And the mourners go about in the street.
6 While the silver cord is not lengthened, or the golden bowl broken, or the pitcher broken at the well, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 And dust returns to the earth as it was. And the spirit returns to God Who gave it.
8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the preacher, “All is vanity.”
9 And the wiser the preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge, and caused them to hear, and searched forth, and prepared many parables.
10 The preacher sought to find out pleasant words, and an upright writing, the words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails fastened by the masters of the assemblies, which are given by one pastor.
12 And of other things besides these, my son, take note. For there is no end in making many books. And much reading is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the end of all: Fear God and keep His Commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every work to judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good or evil.
1 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth. For your love is better than wine.
2 “Because of the savor of your good ointments, your name is as an ointment poured out. Therefore, the virgins love you.
3 “Draw me close.” “We will run after you.” “The king has brought me into his chambers.” “We will rejoice and be glad in you. We will remember your love more than wine.” “The righteous do love you.”
4 “I am black, O daughters of Jerusalem, but comely, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
5 “Do not see me because I am black. For the Sun has looked upon me. The sons of my mother were angry at me. They made me the keeper of the vines. But I did not keep my own vine.”
6 “Show me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you lie at noon. For why should I be as she who turns aside to the flocks of your companions?”
7 “If you do not know, O you, the fairest among women, go forth by the steps of the flock, and feed your kids by the tents of the shepherds.
8 “I have compared you, O my love, to the troupe of horses in the chariots of Pharaoh.
9 “Your cheeks are comely, with rows of stones, and your neck with chains.”
10 “We will make you borders of gold with floods of silver.”
11 “While the king was at his repast, my spikenard gave its smell.
12 “My well-beloved is as a bundle of myrrh to me. He shall lie between my breasts.
13 “My well-beloved is as a cluster of henna to me in the vines of En Gedi.”
14 “My love, behold, you are fair. Behold, you are fair. Your eyes are like doves.”
15 “My well-beloved. Behold, you are fair and pleasant. Also, our bed is green.
16 “The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are fir.”
2 “I am the rose of the field, the lily of the valleys.”
2 “Like a lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”
3 “Like the apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my well-beloved among the sons of men. Under his shadow I had delight and sat down. And his fruit was sweet to my mouth.”
4 “He brought me into the wine cellar. And love was his banner over me.
5 “Sustain me with raisins, and comfort me with apples. For I am lovesick.
6 “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
7 “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the does of the field, that you neither stir up nor awaken my love until she pleases.”
8 “It is the voice of my well-beloved. Behold, he comes leaping by the mountains, and skipping by the hills.
9 “My well-beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Lo, he stands behind our wall, looking forth from the windows, showing himself through the grates.
10 “My well-beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come your way.
11 ‘For behold, winter has passed. The rain has ended and has gone away.
12 ‘The flowers appear on the Earth. The time of the singing of birds has come. And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
13 ‘The fig tree has brought forth her young figs. And the vines, with small grapes, have cast a savor. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away.’
14 “My dove, who is in the holes of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me catch sight of you. Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet and your face comely.”
15 “Take us, the foxes, the little foxes who destroy the vines. For our vines have small grapes.”
16 “My well-beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds among the lilies,
17 “until the day breaks and the shadows flee away. Return, my well-beloved! Be like a gazelle, or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether!”
3 “In my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loved. I sought him, but I did not find him.
2 “I will rise now and go around in the city, by the streets, and by the open places, and will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I did not find him.
3 “The watchmen who went around the city found me. I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’
4 “When I had passed a little from them, then I found him whom my soul loved. I took hold of him and did not leave him until I had brought him to my mother’s house, into her chamber who had conceived me.
5 “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the does of the field, that you neither stir up nor awaken my love until she pleases.
6 “Who is she who comes up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense, and with all the spices of the merchant?
7 “Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s! Sixty strong men of the valiant men of Israel are all around it.
8 “They all handle the sword and are expert in war. Everyone has his sword upon his thigh for the fear at night.
9 “King Solomon made himself a palace from the trees of Lebanon.
10 He made its pillars of silver, its pavement of gold, and its hangings of purple, whose midst was paved with the love of the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 “Come forth, you daughters of Zion, and behold the king, Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his marriage, and on the day of the gladness of his heart!”
4 “Behold, you are fair, my love. Behold, you are fair! Your eyes are like doves. Among your locks your hair is like the flock of goats which look down from the mountain of Gilead.
2 “Your teeth are like a flock of sheep in good order, which go up from the washing, from which each one brings out twins. And none is barren among them.
3 “Your lips are like a thread of scarlet. And your talk is comely. Your temples are as a piece of a pomegranate within your locks.
4 “Your neck is as the tower of David, built for defense. A thousand shields hang in it, and all the targets of the strong men.
5 “Your two breasts are as two fawns, twins of a gazelle, feeding among the lilies.
6 “Until the day breaks and the shadows fly away, I will go into the mountain of myrrh, and to the mountain of incense.
7 “You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you.
8 “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon. And look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, and from the mountains of the leopards.
9 “My sister, my spouse, you have wounded my heart. You have wounded my heart with one of your eyes, with a chain of your neck.
10 “My sister, my spouse, how fair is your love? How much better is your love than wine, and the savor of your ointments than all spices?
11 “Your lips, my spouse, drop as honeycombs. Honey and milk are under your tongue. And the savor of your garment is as the savor of Lebanon.
12 “My sister, my spouse, is as an enclosed garden, as a spring shut up, and a fountain sealed up.
13 “Your plants are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits: henna, spikenard,
14 “spikenard and saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of incense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
15 “O fountain of the gardens! O well of living waters and the springs of Lebanon!”
16 “Arise, O North, and come, O South. Blow on my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my well-beloved come to his garden and eat his pleasant fruit.”
5 “I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, I gathered my myrrh with my spice. I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk: eat, O friends, drink, and make you merry, O well-beloved.”
2 “I sleep, but my heart wakes. It is the voice of my well-beloved who knocks, saying, ‘Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled. For my head is full of dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.’
3 “I have taken off my garment, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet. How shall I soil them?
4 “My well-beloved put in his hand by the opening, and my core was moved toward him.
5 “I rose up to open to my well-beloved, and my hands did drop down myrrh, and my fingers pure myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.
6 “I opened to my well-beloved, but my well-beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart failed when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him, but he did not answer me.
7 “The watchmen who were around the city found me. They struck me and wounded me. The watchmen of the walls took away my veil from me.
8 “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my well-beloved, that you tell him that I am lovesick!”
9 “O the fairest among women! What is your well-beloved more than other well-beloved? What is your well-beloved more than another lover, that you so charge us?”
10 “My well-beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand.
11 “His head is as fine gold, his locks curled and black as a raven.
12 “His eyes are like doves upon the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fittingly set.
13 “His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers, and his lips like lilies dropping down pure myrrh.
14 “His hands are as rings of gold set with the chrysolite, his belly like white ivory covered with sapphires.
15 “His legs are as pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold, his face as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16 “His mouth is as sweet things, and he is wholly delectable. This is my well-beloved, and this is my lover, O daughters of Jerusalem!”
17 “O fairest among women! Where has your well-beloved gone? Where has your well-beloved turned aside, so that we may seek him with you?”
6 “My well-beloved has gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens and gather lilies.
2 “I am my well-beloved’s. And my well-beloved is mine, who feeds among the lilies.”
3 “You, my love, are beautiful as Tirzah, as comely as Jerusalem, as terrible as an army with banners.
4 “Turn away your eyes from me, for they overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats, which look down from Gilead.
5 “Your teeth are like a flock of sheep, which go up from the washing, from which each one brings out twins. And none is barren among them.
6 “Your temples are as a piece of a pomegranate within your locks.
7 “There are sixty queens and eighty concubines and virgins without number.
8 “But my dove is alone. My undefiled, she is the only daughter of her mother, and she is dear to her who bore her. The daughters have seen her and counted her blessed, as have the queens and the concubines, and they have praised her.
9 “Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, pure as the Sun, awesome as an army with banners!
10 “I went down to the garden of nuts, to see the fruits of the valley, to see if the vine budded, and if the pomegranates flourished.
11 “I knew nothing. My soul set me as the chariots of my noble people.
12 “Return! Return, O Shulamite, return! Return so that we may behold you!” “What shall you see in the Shulamite—the dance of two armies, as it were?”
7 “How beautiful are your feet with sandals, O prince’s daughter! The joints of your thighs are like jewels, the work of a cunning workman’s hand.
2 “Your navel is as a round cup that does not lack liquor. Your belly is as a heap of wheat surrounded with lilies.
3 “Your two breasts are as two twin fawns of a gazelle.
4 “Your neck is like a tower of ivory. Your eyes are like the fish pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is as the tower of Lebanon that looks toward Damascus.
5 “Your head upon you is like Carmel, and the hair of your head like purple. The king is tied in the rafters.
6 “How fair you are, and how pleasant you are, O my love, in pleasures!
7 “This, your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts like clusters.
8 “I said, ‘I will go up into the palm tree. I will take hold of her branches.’ Your breasts shall now be like the clusters of the vine, and the savor of your nose like apples,
9 “and the roof of your mouth like good wine, “which goes straight to my well-beloved and causes the lips of the ancient to speak.
10 “I am my well-beloved’s. And his desire is toward me.
11 “Come, my well-beloved, let us go forth into the field. Let us remain in the villages.
12 “Let us get up early to the vines. Let us see if the vine flourishes, whether it has budded the small grapes, or where the pomegranates flourish. There I will give you my love.
13 “The mandrakes have given a smell. And in our gates are all sweet things, new and old. My well-beloved, I have kept them for you.”
8 “Oh that you were as my brother who sucked the breasts of my mother. I would find you outside. I would kiss you. Then they would not despise you.
2 “I will lead you and bring you into my mother’s house. There you shall teach me. I will make you drink spiced wine, new wine of the pomegranate.
3 “His left hand shall be under my head. And his right hand shall embrace me.
4 “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you neither stir up nor awaken my love until she pleases.”
5 “Who is this who comes up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her well-beloved? I raised you up under an apple tree. There your mother conceived you. There she conceived who bore you.”
6 “Set me as a seal on your heart, as a signet upon your arm. For love is strong as death. Jealousy is cruel as the grave. Its coals are fiery coals, a vehement flame.
7 “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the rivers drown it. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, they would greatly despise it.”
8 “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister when she shall be spoken for?
9 “If she is a wall, we will build a silver palace upon her. And if she is a door, we will keep her in with boards of cedar.”
10 “I am a wall. And my breasts are as towers. Then I was, in his eyes, as one who finds peace.
11 “Solomon had a vine in Baal Hamon. He gave the vineyard to keepers. Everyone brought forth a thousand pieces of silver for its fruit.
12 “My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. To you, O Solomon, belongs a thousand, and two hundred to those who keep its fruit.”
13 “O you who dwells in the gardens, the companions listen to your voice! Let me hear it!”
14 “O my well-beloved, flee away and be like the gazelle, or the young stag upon the mountains of spices.”
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