6
The Women of Jerusalem Speak to Her
1 Beautiful woman,
where has your lover gone?
Which way did your lover go?
Tell us so that we can help you look for him.
She Answers the Women of Jerusalem
2 My lover has gone down to his garden,
where sweet-smelling spices grow.
There, like a sheep, he will eat the grass,
and he will enjoy the lilies.
3 I belong to my lover, and my lover belongs to me.
He is the one feeding among the lilies.
He Speaks to Her
4 My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah,*
as pleasant as Jerusalem,
as awesome as the stars in the sky.†
5 Don’t look at me!
Your eyes excite me too much!
And your hair is long and flowing,
like little goats dancing down the slopes of Mount Gilead.
6 Your teeth are white like ewes‡
just coming from their bath.
They all give birth to twins.
Not one of them has lost a baby.
7 Your cheeks under your veil
are like slices of pomegranate.
8 There might be 60 queens
and 80 slave women,
and young women too many to count,
9 but there is only one woman for me,
my dove, my perfect one.
She is the favorite of her mother,
her mother’s favorite child.
The young women see her and praise her.
Even the queens and slave women praise her.
The Women Praise Her
10 Who is that young woman?
She shines out like the dawn.
She is as pretty as the moon.
She is as bright as the sun.
She is as awesome
as the stars in the sky.
He Speaks to Her
11 I went down to the grove of walnut trees,
to see the fruit of the valley,
to see if the vines were in bloom,
to see if the pomegranates had budded.
12 I was so excited
when she put me in the royal chariot.§
The Women of Jerusalem Call to Her
13 Come back, come back, Shulamith*!
Come back, come back, so we may look at you.
Why are you staring at Shulamith,
as she dances the Mahanaim dance†?
* 6:4 Tirzah One of the capital cities of northern Israel. † 6:4 the stars in the sky Or “an army ready for war.” The meaning of the Hebrew word here and in verse 10 is uncertain. ‡ 6:6 ewes Female goats. § 6:12 the royal chariot Or “the chariots of my noble people.” See “chariot” in the Word List. * 6:13 Shulamith Or “Shulamite.” The word might be the feminine form of the name “Solomon.” This could mean she was or would become the bride of Solomon. This name might also mean “perfect,” “at peace,” or “woman from Shunem.” † 6:13 Mahanaim dance Or “the victory dance” or “the dance of the two camps.”