Old Testament
Song of Solomon 7
Overview
The bridegroom offers another head-to-toe song of praise, this time moving upward from her feet to her head, admiring her graceful steps, her form, her stature like a palm tree whose fruit he longs to grasp, and the fragrance of her breath like apples. The bride responds with warm welcome, "I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me," and then takes the initiative herself, inviting him out to the vineyards and villages: "Let us go early to the vineyards... there I will give you my love." She speaks of the mandrakes giving fragrance and of choice fruits, both new and old, that she has stored up for him, a picture of generous, mutual, mature desire freely shared.
1How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince’s daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
2Your body is like a round goblet, no mixed wine is wanting. Your waist is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies.
3Your two breasts are like two fawns, that are twins of a roe.
4Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
5Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses.
6How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights!
7This, your stature, is like a palm tree, your breasts like its fruit.
8I said, “I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit.” Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the smell of your breath like apples.
9Your mouth is like the best wine, that goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.
10I am my beloved’s. His desire is toward me.
11Come, my beloved! Let’s go out into the field. Let’s lodge in the villages.
12Let’s go early up to the vineyards. Let’s see whether the vine has budded, its blossom is open, and the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give you my love.
13The mandrakes produce fragrance. At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old, which I have stored up for you, my beloved.