Song of Solomon 1

The chapter opens with the Shulamite woman expressing her fervent desire for the king's love, which she finds more delightful than wine, and acknowledging his drawing power. She describes herself as dark-skinned from working in the vineyards but inherently beautiful, then seeks her beloved shepherd. The chapter concludes with the lovers exchanging tender praises, marveling at each other's fairness and the pleasantness of their shared intimacy.

The Song of Solomon begins with the Shulamite woman's passionate plea for her beloved's kisses, declaring his love superior to wine and his name like precious ointment. She speaks of being drawn into the king's chambers, where she rejoices in his love. She then describes her dark complexion, stating she is "black, but comely," explaining it by her forced labor in the vineyards, which caused her to neglect her own "vineyard." She seeks her beloved, asking where he pastures his flock at noon, and receives guidance. The king then praises her beauty, comparing her to a company of horses and promising her adornments. She, in turn, describes her beloved as fragrant and precious, like myrrh and camphire. The chapter concludes with a mutual exchange of compliments, where each lover affirms the other's fairness and the pleasantness of their intimate setting.

Chapter one of the Song of Solomon commences with the Shulamite woman's ardent expression of desire for her beloved, pleading for his kisses and proclaiming his love to be more satisfying than wine. She likens his name to fragrant ointment, which draws virgins to him, and expresses joy at being brought into the king's chambers. She acknowledges the universal appeal of his love among the upright. The woman then describes her physical appearance, stating, "I am black, but comely," attributing her dark skin to the sun's exposure while working in the vineyards, a task imposed upon her by her "mother's children," which led to the neglect of her "own vineyard." She then addresses her beloved, whom her soul loves, asking for the location where he feeds his flock at noon, desiring to avoid wandering aimlessly. In response, she is advised to follow the footsteps of the flock and feed her kids beside the shepherds' tents if she does not know. The beloved, identified as the king, then praises her beauty, comparing her to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots and admiring her adorned cheeks and neck. He promises to make her further adornments of gold and silver. The woman, in turn, describes her beloved's presence as a delightful fragrance, like spikenard, and as precious as a bundle of myrrh resting between her breasts. She also compares him to a cluster of camphire from the vineyards of Engedi. The chapter culminates in a tender exchange of affirmations, with the beloved calling her fair and possessing "doves' eyes." She reciprocates, acknowledging his fairness and pleasantness, and describes their intimate dwelling with a "green bed" and a house constructed of cedar beams and fir rafters, symbolizing their natural and beautiful union.