1  ⁱThe heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above¹ proclaims his handiwork.

2  Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3  There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4  ^jTheir ^kvoice² goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for ^lthe sun,

5  ^mwhich comes out like ⁿa bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6  Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7  ^oThe law of the Lord is perfect,³

^previving the soul;

^qthe testimony of the Lord is ^rsure,

^smaking wise ^tthe simple;

8  ^uthe precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is ^vpure,

^wenlightening the eyes;

9  the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules⁴ of the Lord are ^xtrue,

and righteous altogether.

10  More to be desired are they than ^ygold,

even much ^zfine gold;

^asweeter also than honey

and drippings of ^bthe honeycomb.

11  Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

^cin keeping them there is great reward.

12  ^dWho can discern his errors?

^eDeclare me innocent from ^fhidden faults.

13  ^gKeep back your servant also from ^hpresumptuous sins;

let them not have ⁱdominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my ^jrock and my ^kredeemer.

1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals,

O ^tnoble daughter!

Your rounded thighs are like ^ujewels,

the work of ^va master hand.

2  Your navel is a rounded bowl

that never lacks mixed wine.

Your belly is a heap of wheat,

encircled with ^wlilies.

3  ^xYour two breasts are like two fawns,

twins of a gazelle.

4  Your ^yneck is like an ivory tower.

Your ^zeyes are pools in ^aHeshbon,

by the gate of Bath-rabbim.

Your nose is like a tower of ^bLebanon,

which looks toward ^cDamascus.

5  Your head crowns you like ^eCarmel,

and your ^fflowing locks are like purple;

a king is held captive in the tresses.

6  ^gHow beautiful and ^hpleasant you are,

O loved one, with all your delights!¹

7  Your stature is like a palm tree,

and your breasts are like its clusters.

8  I say I will climb the palm tree

and lay hold of its fruit.

Oh may your breasts be like ⁱclusters of the vine,

and the scent of your breath like apples,

9  and your ^jmouth² like the best wine.

It goes down smoothly for my beloved,

gliding over lips and teeth.³

10  ^kI am my beloved’s,

^land his desire is for me.

11  ^mCome, my beloved,

let us go out into the fields

and lodge in the villages;⁴

12  let us go out early to the vineyards

ⁿand see whether the vines have budded,

whether ^othe grape blossoms have opened

and the pomegranates are in bloom.

There I will give you my love.

13  ^pThe mandrakes give forth fragrance,

and beside our doors are all choice fruits,

^qnew as well as old,

which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.