1All night long on my bed

I looked for the one my heart loves;

I looked for him but did not find him.

2I will get up now and go about the city,

through its streets and squares;

I will search for the one my heart loves.

So I looked for him but did not find him.

3The watchmen found me

as they made their rounds in the city.

“Have you seen the one my heart loves?”

4Scarcely had I passed them

when I found the one my heart loves.

I held him and would not let him go

till I had brought him to my mother’s house,

to the room of the one who conceived me.

5Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you

by the gazelles and by the does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love

until it so desires.

6Who is this coming up from the wilderness

like a column of smoke,

perfumed with myrrh and incense

made from all the spices of the merchant?

7Look! It is Solomon’s carriage,

escorted by sixty warriors,

the noblest of Israel,

8all of them wearing the sword,

all experienced in battle,

each with his sword at his side,

prepared for the terrors of the night.

9King Solomon made for himself the carriage;

he made it of wood from Lebanon.

10Its posts he made of silver,

its base of gold.

Its seat was upholstered with purple,

its interior inlaid with love.

Daughters of Jerusalem, 11come out,

and look, you daughters of Zion.

Look on King Solomon wearing a crown,

the crown with which his mother crowned him

on the day of his wedding,

the day his heart rejoiced.

She

1I am a roseof Sharon,

a lily of the valleys.

He

2Like a lily among thorns

is my darling among the young women.

She

3Like an appletree among the trees of the forest

is my beloved among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

and let his banner over me be love.

5Strengthen me with raisins,

refresh me with apples,

for I am faint with love.

6His left arm is under my head,

and his right arm embraces me.

7Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you

by the gazelles and by the does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love

until it so desires.

8Listen! My beloved!

Look! Here he comes,

leaping across the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Look! There he stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattice.

10My beloved spoke and said to me,

“Arise, my darling,

my beautiful one, come with me.

11See! The winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

12Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land.

13The fig tree forms its early fruit;

the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling;

my beautiful one, come with me.”

He

14My dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the hiding places on the mountainside,

show me your face,

let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet,

and your face is lovely.

15Catch for us the foxes,

the little foxes

that ruin the vineyards,

our vineyards that are in bloom.

She

16My beloved is mine and I am his;

he browses among the lilies.

17Until the day breaks

and the shadows flee,

turn, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or like a young stag

on the rugged hills.

1Solomon’s Song of Songs.

She

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—

for your love is more delightful than wine.

3Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the young women love you!

4Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the king bring me into his chambers.

Friends

We rejoice and delight in you;

we will praise your love more than wine.

She

How right they are to adore you!

5Dark am I, yet lovely,

daughters of Jerusalem,

dark like the tents of Kedar,

like the tent curtains of Solomon.

6Do not stare at me because I am dark,

because I am darkened by the sun.

My mother’s sons were angry with me

and made me take care of the vineyards;

my own vineyard I had to neglect.

7Tell me, you whom I love,

where you graze your flock

and where you rest your sheep at midday.

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your friends?

Friends

8If you do not know, most beautiful of women,

follow the tracks of the sheep

and graze your young goats

by the tents of the shepherds.

He

9I liken you, my darling, to a mare

among Pharaoh’s chariot horses.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings,

your neck with strings of jewels.

11We will make you earrings of gold,

studded with silver.

She

12While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

13My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

14My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

from the vineyards of En Gedi.

He

15How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how beautiful!

Your eyes are doves.

She

16How handsome you are, my beloved!

Oh, how charming!

And our bed is verdant.

He

17The beams of our house are cedars;

our rafters are firs.

ר Resh

153Look on my suffering and deliver me,

for I have not forgotten your law.

154Defend my cause and redeem me;

preserve my life according to your promise.

155Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek out your decrees.

156Your compassion, Lord, is great;

preserve my life according to your laws.

157Many are the foes who persecute me,

but I have not turned from your statutes.

158I look on the faithless with loathing,

for they do not obey your word.

159See how I love your precepts;

preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.

160All your words are true;

all your righteous laws are eternal.

ש Sin and Shin

161Rulers persecute me without cause,

but my heart trembles at your word.

162I rejoice in your promise

like one who finds great spoil.

163I hate and detest falsehood

but I love your law.

164Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous laws.

165Great peace have those who love your law,

and nothing can make them stumble.

166I wait for your salvation, Lord,

and I follow your commands.

167I obey your statutes,

for I love them greatly.

168I obey your precepts and your statutes,

for all my ways are known to you.

ת Taw

169May my cry come before you, Lord;

give me understanding according to your word.

170May my supplication come before you;

deliver me according to your promise.

171May my lips overflow with praise,

for you teach me your decrees.

172May my tongue sing of your word,

for all your commands are righteous.

173May your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

174I long for your salvation, Lord,

and your law gives me delight.

175Let me live that I may praise you,

and may your laws sustain me.

176I have strayed like a lost sheep.

Seek your servant,

for I have not forgotten your commands.

פ Pe

129Your statutes are wonderful;

therefore I obey them.

130The unfolding of your words gives light;

it gives understanding to the simple.

131I open my mouth and pant,

longing for your commands.

132Turn to me and have mercy on me,

as you always do to those who love your name.

133Direct my footsteps according to your word;

let no sin rule over me.

134Redeem me from human oppression,

that I may obey your precepts.

135Make your face shine on your servant

and teach me your decrees.

136Streams of tears flow from my eyes,

for your law is not obeyed.

צ Tsadhe

137You are righteous, Lord,

and your laws are right.

138The statutes you have laid down are righteous;

they are fully trustworthy.

139My zeal wears me out,

for my enemies ignore your words.

140Your promises have been thoroughly tested,

and your servant loves them.

141Though I am lowly and despised,

I do not forget your precepts.

142Your righteousness is everlasting

and your law is true.

143Trouble and distress have come upon me,

but your commands give me delight.

144Your statutes are always righteous;

give me understanding that I may live.

ק Qoph

145I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord,

and I will obey your decrees.

146I call out to you; save me

and I will keep your statutes.

147I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I have put my hope in your word.

148My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promises.

149Hear my voice in accordance with your love;

preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws.

150Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

but they are far from your law.

151Yet you are near, Lord,

and all your commands are true.

152Long ago I learned from your statutes

that you established them to last forever.

נ Nun

105Your word is a lamp for my feet,

a light on my path.

106I have taken an oath and confirmed it,

that I will follow your righteous laws.

107I have suffered much;

preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.

108Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,

and teach me your laws.

109Though I constantly take my life in my hands,

I will not forget your law.

110The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from your precepts.

111Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart.

112My heart is set on keeping your decrees

to the very end.

ס Samekh

113I hate double-minded people,

but I love your law.

114You are my refuge and my shield;

I have put my hope in your word.

115Away from me, you evildoers,

that I may keep the commands of my God!

116Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;

do not let my hopes be dashed.

117Uphold me, and I will be delivered;

I will always have regard for your decrees.

118You reject all who stray from your decrees,

for their delusions come to nothing.

119All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;

therefore I love your statutes.

120My flesh trembles in fear of you;

I stand in awe of your laws.

ע Ayin

121I have done what is righteous and just;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122Ensure your servant’s well-being;

do not let the arrogant oppress me.

123My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,

looking for your righteous promise.

124Deal with your servant according to your love

and teach me your decrees.

125I am your servant; give me discernment

that I may understand your statutes.

126It is time for you to act, Lord;

your law is being broken.

127Because I love your commands

more than gold, more than pure gold,

128and because I consider all your precepts right,

I hate every wrong path.

ל Lamedh

89Your word, Lord, is eternal;

it stands firm in the heavens.

90Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

you established the earth, and it endures.

91Your laws endure to this day,

for all things serve you.

92If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have preserved my life.

94Save me, for I am yours;

I have sought out your precepts.

95The wicked are waiting to destroy me,

but I will ponder your statutes.

96To all perfection I see a limit,

but your commands are boundless.

מ Mem

97Oh, how I love your law!

I meditate on it all day long.

98Your commands are always with me

and make me wiser than my enemies.

99I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.

100I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.

101I have kept my feet from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.

102I have not departed from your laws,

for you yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104I gain understanding from your precepts;

therefore I hate every wrong path.