Reflections on Song of Solomon 4

 Song of Solomon 04 (Contemporary English Version)

1. My darling, you are lovely, so very lovely-- as you look through your veil, your eyes are those of a dove. Your hair tosses about as gracefully as goats coming down from Gilead.
   
2. Your teeth are whiter than sheep freshly washed; they match perfectly, not one is missing.
   
3. Your lips are crimson cords, your mouth is shapely; behind your veil are hidden beautiful rosy cheeks.
   
4. Your neck is more graceful than the tower of David, decorated with thousands of warriors' shields.
   
5. Your breasts are perfect; they are twin deer feeding among lilies.
   
6. I will hasten to those hills sprinkled with sweet perfume and stay there till sunrise.
   
7. My darling, you are lovely in every way.
   
8. My bride, together we will leave Lebanon! We will say good-by to the peaks of Mount Amana, Senir, and Hermon, where lions and leopards live in the caves.
   
9. My bride, my very own, you have stolen my heart! With one glance from your eyes and the glow of your necklace, you have stolen my heart.
   
10. Your love is sweeter than wine; the smell of your perfume is more fragrant than spices.
    
11. Your lips are a honeycomb; milk and honey flow from your tongue. Your dress has the aroma of cedar trees from Lebanon.
    
12. My bride, my very own, you are a garden, a fountain closed off to all others.
    
13. Your arms are vines, covered with delicious fruits and all sorts of spices-- henna, nard,
    
14. saffron, calamus, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh, and aloes --all the finest spices.
    
15. You are a spring in the garden, a fountain of pure water, and a refreshing stream from Mount Lebanon.
    
16. Let the north wind blow, the south wind too! Let them spread the aroma of my garden, so the one I love may enter and taste its delicious fruits.

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It was the wedding night and the two lovers were together and the groom was complimenting his by bride telling her how beautiful she was. Her eyes were tranquil as doves and her hair streaming down like a flock of goat coming down the mountain. Her teeth, lips, and mouth were all described in endearing terms as was her brow or temple. Rather than a description of beauty, her neck was described to depict the way in which she carried herself. It was with a queenly bearing. Her breasts were as soft and delicate, as fawns, and the lover anticipated that before morning he would make his way to her breasts which were luxuriant as frankincense and myrrh.

Though the beloved had initially been uncomplimentary of her beauty, which seemed also to be the opinion of the daughters of Jerusalem, in the eyes of her new husband, she was beautiful and without flaw. He invited his bride to leave behind her home and to come live with him. For she had captured his heart and he wanted to be with her.

He anticipated their lovemaking which he said will be better than wine and her perfume than balsam. Her kisses were like honey and even her clothing was fragrant. All the senses being captured. Until then, the bride had been a "locked garden," that is, she was a virgin, presenting herself pure to her husband. The husband described her garden with it fruits and flowers and spices. Her garden of purity was special indeed. It was like a well of flowing water that satisfied his thirst.

And then the bride unlocks her garden and invites her husband to enter and enjoy its fruits.