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 thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
2Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.
3Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.
4Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
5Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
6How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
7This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes .
8I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;
9And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
10I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.
11Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.
12Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
13The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits , new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.