The Daily Audio Bible
Today's audio is from the NIV. Switch to the NIV to read along with the audio.
1 Solomon’s Song of Songs [C the best of songs and a song composed of many songs].
The Woman Speaks to the Man She Loves
2 Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth,
because your love is better than wine [C makes one light-headed].
3 The ·smell [scent] of your ·perfume [cologne; L oil] is ·pleasant [wonderful],
and your ·name [reputation] is pleasant like ·expensive [or poured out] ·perfume [cologne; L oil].
That’s why the young women love you.
4 ·Take me with [L Draw me after] you; let’s run together.
The king takes me into his ·rooms [bedroom; inner chamber].
Friends Speak to the Man
We will rejoice and be happy with you;
we praise your love more than wine [v. 2].
With good reason, the young women love you.
The Woman Speaks
5 I’m dark ·but [or and] ·lovely [beautiful; C she was out in the sun because her brothers forced her to work the fields; v. 6],
·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [C her friends whom she is instructing about love],
dark like the tents of Kedar [C desert nomads; Gen. 25:13; Jer. 49:28–29],
like the curtains of ·Solomon [or Salma; C south Arabian desert nomads].
6 Don’t look at how ·dark [swarthy] I am,
·at how dark the sun has made me [L because the sun scorched me].
My ·brothers [L mother’s sons] were angry with me
and made me ·tend [or guard] the vineyards,
so I haven’t ·tended [or guarded] my own ·vineyard [C referring to her body]!
7 Tell me, you whom I love,
where do you ·feed your sheep [graze]?
Where do you let them ·rest [lie down] at noon?
Why should I look for you near your friend’s sheep,
like a woman who wears a veil [C like a prostitute going tent to tent; Gen. 38:14–15]?
The Man Speaks to the Woman
8 You are the most beautiful of women.
Surely you know to follow the tracks of the sheep
and feed your young goats
near the shepherds’ tents.
9 My darling, you are like a mare
among the ·king’s [L Pharaoh’s] stallions [C driving them crazy with desire].
10 Your cheeks are beautiful ·with ornaments [L between earrings],
and your neck with ·jewels [a necklace].
11 We will make for you gold earrings
with silver ·hooks [studs].
The Woman Speaks
12 The smell of my ·perfume [nard] spreads out
to the king on his couch.
13 My lover is like a ·bag [sachet] of myrrh
that ·lies all night [lodges] between my breasts [C intimately].
14 My lover is like a ·bunch [cluster] of ·flowers [L henna blossoms; C pleasant smelling and used to dye hair red]
from the vineyards at En Gedi [C a romantic location with a waterfall near the Dead Sea].
The Man Speaks
15 My darling, you are beautiful!
Oh, you are beautiful,
and your eyes are like doves [C perhaps fluttering or a reference to softness and beauty].
The Woman Answers the Man
16 You are so handsome, my lover,
and so ·pleasant [or lovely]!
Our bed is ·the grass [green].
17 Cedar trees form ·our roof [L the boards of our house];
our ·ceiling [rafters] is made of juniper wood [C they find intimacy outdoors].
The Woman Speaks Again
2 I am a ·rose [or flower] in the Plain of Sharon [C a fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast],
a lily in the valleys [C she claims to be ordinary].
The Man Speaks Again
2 Among the ·young women [girls], my darling
is like a lily among thorns [C she is extraordinarily beautiful]!
The Woman Answers
3 Among the ·young men [boys], my lover
is like an apple tree ·in the woods [L among the trees of the forest; C he is extraordinary; the apple tree is fruitful and pleasant smelling]!
I ·enjoy sitting in [desire] his ·shadow [shade];
his fruit is sweet to my ·taste [palate].
4 He brought me to the ·banquet room [L house of wine],
and his banner over me is love [C his love for her is well known].
5 Strengthen me with ·raisins [raisin cakes],
and refresh me with apples [C considered aphrodisiacs],
because I am ·weak [faint] with love.
6 My lover’s left hand is under my head,
and his right arm ·holds me tight [embraces me; 8:3].
The Woman Speaks to the Friends
7 ·Women [L Daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5], ·promise me [I adjure you]
by the gazelles and the deer of the field [C in Hebrew sounds like “by the (Lord) of Hosts” or “by God Almighty”]
not to awaken
or ·excite [arouse] love
until it ·is ready [so desires; C likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; 3:5; 8:4].
The Woman Speaks Again
8 I hear ·my lover’s voice [the sound of my lover].
Here he comes ·jumping [leaping] across the mountains,
·skipping [bounding] over the hills [C he moves with agile grace and speed].
9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag].
Look, he stands behind our wall
·peeking [staring] through the windows,
looking through the ·blinds [lattice].
10 My lover spoke and said to me,
“·Get [Rise] up, my darling;
let’s go away, my beautiful one.
11 Look, the winter is past;
the rains are over and gone [C spring has arrived, the time of love].
12 Blossoms appear through all the land.
The time has come to sing;
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
13 There are young figs ·on [L ripening on] the fig trees,
and the blossoms on the vines ·smell sweet [L spread their fragrance].
·Get [Rise] up, my darling;
let’s go away, my beautiful one.”
The Man Speaks
14 My beloved is like a dove hiding in the ·cracks [crevices] of the rock,
in the ·secret [hiding] places of the cliff.
·Show me [Let me see] your ·face [L form],
and let me hear your voice.
Your voice is ·sweet [agreeable],
and your ·face [form] is ·lovely [pleasant].
15 ·Catch [Grab] the foxes for us—
the little foxes that ruin the vineyards
while they are in blossom [C threats to the relationship].
The Woman Speaks
16 My lover is mine, and I am his [6:3; 7:11].
He ·feeds [grazes] among the lilies
17 until the day dawns
and the shadows ·disappear [flee].
Turn, my lover.
Be like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag]
on the ·mountain valleys [or the mountains of Bether].
The Woman Dreams
3 ·At night [or During many nights] on my bed,
I ·looked [searched] for the one ·I love [my soul loves];
I ·looked [searched] for him, but I could not find him.
2 I ·got [rose] up and went around the city,
in the streets and ·squares [public areas],
·looking [searching] for the one ·I love [my soul loves].
I ·looked [searched] for him, but I could not find him.
3 The ·watchmen [guards; C ancient equivalent to the police] found me as they patrolled the city,
so I asked, “Have you seen the one ·I love [L my soul loves]?”
4 ·As soon as [or A little while after] I had left them,
I found the one ·I love [L my soul loves].
I ·held [seized; grabbed] him and would not let him go
until I brought him to my mother’s house,
to the room where ·I was born [L she conceived me; 8:2].
The Woman Speaks to the Friends
5 ·Women [L Daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5], ·promise me [I adjure you]
by the gazelles and the deer of the field [C in Hebrew sounds like “by the (Lord) of Hosts” or “by God Almighty”]
not to awaken
or ·excite [arouse] love
until it ·is ready [so desires; C likely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; 2:7; 8:4].
6 ·Who [or What] is this coming out of the ·desert [wilderness]
like a ·cloud [pillar] of smoke?
·Who is this that smells like [L …perfumed with] myrrh, ·incense [frankincense],
and ·other spices [L from all the scented powders of the trader]?
7 Look, it’s Solomon’s ·couch [palanquin; litter; C a bed carried by servants]
with sixty soldiers around it,
the ·finest soldiers [heroes; mighty men] of Israel.
8 These soldiers all carry swords
and have been trained in war.
Every man wears a sword at his ·side [thigh]
and is ready for the dangers of the night.
9 King Solomon had a ·couch [litter; v. 7] made for himself
of wood from Lebanon.
10 He made its posts of silver
and its ·braces [canopy] of gold.
The seat was covered with purple [C the color of royalty] cloth
that the ·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5] ·wove [inlaid its interior] with love.
11 ·Women [L Daughters] of ·Jerusalem [L Zion; 1:5], go out and see King Solomon.
He is wearing the crown his mother put on his head
on his wedding day,
when his heart was happy!
The Man Speaks to the Woman
4 How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, you are beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil [C imparting a sense of mystery] are like doves [1:15].
Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead [C a beautiful site in central Transjordan near the Jabbok river; the image indicates lush, flowing hair].
2 Your teeth are like ·newly [L a flock of] sheared sheep
just coming from ·their bath [a washing; C white].
Each one has a twin,
and none of them is missing [C a compliment in an age before dentistry].
3 Your lips are like ·red silk [a scarlet] thread,
and your mouth is ·lovely [or desirable].
Your ·cheeks [or temple] behind your veil
are like slices of a pomegranate [C reddish orange].
4 Your neck is like David’s tower [C dignified; strong],
built ·with rows of stones [in courses].
A thousand shields hang on its walls [C a necklace that enhances her beauty];
each shield belongs to a ·strong soldier [hero].
5 Your breasts are like two fawns,
like twins of a gazelle,
·feeding [grazing] among the lilies.
6 Until the day dawns
and the shadows ·disappear [flee],
I will go to that mountain of myrrh
and to that hill of ·incense [frankincense; C referring to the woman].
7 My darling, everything about you is beautiful,
and ·there is nothing at all wrong with you [you have no blemish].
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.
Come with me from Lebanon,
from the top of Mount Amana,
from the tops of Mount Senir and Mount Hermon.
Come from the lions’ dens
and from the leopards’ hills [C apart from him she is in a dangerous place].
9 My sister [C an ancient term of endearment], my bride,
you ·have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy];
you ·have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy]
with ·a [L one] glance of your eyes,
with one ·sparkle [L jewel] from your necklace.
10 ·Your love is so sweet [L How beautiful is your love], my sister [4:9], my bride.
Your love is better than wine [C makes one lightheaded],
and ·your perfume [L the scent of your oils] smells better than any spice.
11 My bride, your lips drip honey;
honey and milk are under your tongue [C sensuous liquids that he will explore].
Your clothes smell like the cedars of Lebanon [C the best cedars].
12 My sister [4:9], my bride, you are like a garden locked up [C she has not been entered by a man],
like a ·walled-in [sealed] spring, a ·closed-up [locked] fountain.
13 Your ·limbs [L shoots; C a botanical term either referring to the woman’s legs or her genital organs] are like an orchard
of pomegranates with all the best fruit,
filled with ·flowers [henna; 1:14] and nard,
14 nard and saffron [C spicy floral scent], calamus [C woody odor], and cinnamon,
with trees of incense, myrrh [C aromatic gum from tree bark], and aloes [C a fragrant wood]—
all the best spices.
15 You are like a garden fountain—
a well of ·fresh [L living] water
·flowing [streaming] down from the mountains of Lebanon.
The Woman Speaks
16 Awake, north wind.
Come, south wind.
Blow on my garden,
and let its ·sweet smells [spices] flow out.
Let my lover enter the garden
and eat its best fruits [C she desires physical intimacy].
Titus and His Companions Help
16 ·I thank [L Thanks be to] God because he ·gave [L put into the heart of] Titus [2:13] the same ·love [L eagerness; zeal] for you that I have. 17 [L For] Titus accepted what we asked him to do. He ·wanted very much [was eager] to go to you, and this was ·his own idea [of his own accord]. 18 We are sending with him the brother who is praised by all the churches because of his service ·in preaching the Good News [L in the Gospel; C unknown person, possibly Luke]. 19 Also, this brother was ·chosen [appointed] by the churches to go with us ·when we deliver this gift of money [or in this ministry/administration of grace]. We are doing this ·service [ministry] to bring glory to the Lord and to show ·that we really want [our eagerness/willingness] to help.
20 We are being careful so that no one will ·criticize [blame] us for the way we are handling this ·large [abundant; generous] gift. 21 [L For] We are trying hard to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people [Prov. 3:4].
22 Also, we are sending with them our brother, who has proved to us in many ways that he is always ·ready [eager; zealous] to help. He wants to help even more now, because he has much ·faith [confidence] in you.
23 ·Now [or If there is any question] about Titus [2:13]—he is my partner ·who is working with me [and coworker] to help you. ·And [or If there is any question] about the other brothers—they are ·sent [messengers] from the churches, and ·they bring glory to [or they are the glory of] Christ. 24 So show these men the proof of your love and the reason we ·are proud [boast] of you. ·Then [or …so that] all the churches can see it.
God Wants True Worship
A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].
50 The God of gods, the Lord, speaks.
He ·calls [proclaims to; summons] the earth from the rising to the setting sun.
2 God shines from ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple],
·whose beauty is perfect [L the perfection of beauty; 48:2; Lam. 2:15].
3 Our God comes, and he will not be silent.
A fire ·burns [consumes] in front of him [Heb. 12:29],
and a ·powerful storm [whirlwind; tempest] surrounds him [Is. 66:15].
4 He ·calls to [summons] the ·sky [heavens] above and to the earth
that he might judge his people.
5 He says, “Gather around, you ·who worship me [holy ones; saints],
who have made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with me, using a sacrifice [Ex. 24:5–8].”
6 God is the judge,
and even the ·skies say he is right [heavens proclaim his righteousness]. ·
7 God says, “My people, listen to me;
Israel, I will ·testify [witness] against you.
I am God, your God.
8 I do not ·scold [reprimand; rebuke] you for your sacrifices.
You always bring me your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17].
9 But I do not ·need [or accept] bulls from your ·stalls [L house]
or goats from your ·pens [folds],
10 because every animal of the forest is already mine.
The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.
11 I know every bird on the mountains,
and every living thing in the fields is mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
because the earth and ·everything in it [L its fullness] are mine.
13 ·I don’t [L Do I…?] eat the meat of bulls
or drink the blood of goats.
14 Give an ·offering to show thanks [thank offering] to God [Lev. 7:12; 22:29; Heb. 13:15].
Give God Most High what you have ·promised [vowed].
15 Call to me in times of ·trouble [distress].
I will ·save [rescue; T deliver] you, and you will ·honor [glorify] me.”
16 But God says to the wicked,
“Why do you ·talk about [recount] my ·laws [statutes; ordinances; requirements]?
Why do you ·mention [L lift up on your mouth] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty]?
17 You hate my ·teachings [instruction; discipline; Prov. 1:7]
and turn your back on what I say.
18 When you see a thief, you ·join [delight in; or run with] him.
·You take part in adultery [Your lot/portion is with adulterers].
19 You ·don’t stop your mouth from speaking evil [L send your mouth into evil],
and your tongue ·makes up lies [L is yoked to deception].
20 You sit around and speak against your brother
and ·lie [L give a stain/fault] about your mother’s son.
21 I have kept quiet while you did these things,
so you thought I was just like you.
But I will ·scold [reprimand; reprove] you
and ·accuse [indict] you ·to your face [L before your eyes].
22 “·Think about [Understand] this, you who forget God.
Otherwise, I will tear you apart,
and no one will ·save [protect] you.
23 Those people ·honor [glorify] me
who bring me ·offerings to show thanks [thank offerings; v. 14].
And I, God, will save those who ·do that [L go on my way/path].”
22 Do not ·abuse [L steal from] poor people because they are poor,
and do not ·take away the rights of [oppress] the needy in ·court [L the gate].
23 The Lord will ·defend them in court [accuse their accusers]
and will ·take the life of those who take away their rights [L press/squeeze the life out of those who press/squeeze them; Ex. 22:21–23; 23:6; Deut. 24:14–15].
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.