Cânticos 1

¹ An excellent song which was Salomons.

² LetThis is spoken in the person of the Church, or of the faithful soul inflamed with the desire of Christ, whom she loves.him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.

³ Because of theThe feeling of your great benefits.savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do theThey that are pure in heart and conversation.virgins love thee.

⁴ The faithful confess that they cannot come to Christ, unless they are drawn.Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into hisMeaning the secret joy that is not known to the world.chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

⁵ I [am]The Church confesses her spots and sin, but has confidence in the favour of Christ.black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents ofKedar was Ishmael's son, of whom came the Arabians that dwelt in tents.Kedar, as theWhich within were all set with precious stones and jewels.curtains of Solomon.

⁶ Look not upon me, because I [am]Consider not the Church by the outward appearance.black, because theThe corruption of nature through sin and afflictions.sun hath looked upon me:My own brethren who should have most favoured me.my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] my own vineyard have I notShe confesses her own negligence.kept.

⁷ Tell me,The spouse feeling her fault flees to her husband only for comfort.O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks ofWhom you have called to the dignity of pastors, and they set forth their own dreams instead of your doctrine.thy companions?

⁸ Christ speaks to his Church, bidding them that are ignorant to go to the pastors to learn.If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, go forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.

⁹ I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh'sFor your spiritual beauty and excellency there was no worldly treasure to be compared to you.chariots.

¹⁰ Thy cheekes are comely with rowes of stones, and thy necke with chaines.

¹¹ We will make thee borders of golde with studdes of siluer.

¹² The Church rejoices that she is admitted to the company of Christ.While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.

¹³ A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved to me; he shall lie all night between myHe will be most dear to me.breasts.

¹⁴ My welbeloued is as a cluster of camphire vnto me in the vines of Engedi.

¹⁵ My loue, beholde, thou art faire: beholde, thou art faire: thine eyes are like the doues.

¹⁶ Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also ourThat is, the heart of the faithful, in which Christ dwells by his Spirit.bed [is] green.

¹⁷ The beames of our house are cedars, our rafters are of firre.