Psalm 72; Psalm 127; Song of Solomon 1–2

1Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

2May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

3May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.

4May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

5May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

6May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.

7May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

8May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

9May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.

10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

12For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.

13He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.

14He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.

15Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.

16May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.

17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.

18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

19And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

1Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.

2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.

3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.

5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

1This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.

2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.

3The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.

4Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. The Friends We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. The Bride It is only right that they adore you.

5I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

6Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.

7Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?

8If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.

9I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

10Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.

11We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.

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 in the vineyards of En-gedi.

15How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.

16How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.

17The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are fragrant firs.

1I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.

2Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.

3Like an apple tree 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.

4He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.

5Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

6His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

7O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

8Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.

9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

10My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.

11For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

12The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.

13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”

14O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.

15Catch for us the foxes— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards— for our vineyards are in bloom.

16My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.

17Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.