The Garden Enclosed
Song of Songs 4
The bridegroom praises his bride's beauty feature by feature, calling her all fair and without blemish. He describes her as a garden enclosed and a sealed fountain filled with spices, and calls on the winds to spread her fragrance abroad.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonEVEN on the day of the gladness of his heart. Behold, thou art fair, my love! Behold thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves, now thy veil is removed! thy hair is like the flocks of goats which are seen from mount Galaad:
BrentonBehold, thou art fair, my companion; behold, thou art fair; thine eyes are doves, beside thy veil: thy hair is as flocks of goats, that have appeared from Galaad.
GreekἸδοὺ εἶ καλὴ ἡ πλησίον μου, ἰδοὺ εἶ καλή· ὀφθαλμοί σου περιστεραὶ, ἐκτὸς τῆς σιωπήσεώς σου· τρίχωμά σου ὡς ἀγέλαι τῶν αἰγῶν, αἳ ἀπεκαλύφθησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ Γαλαάδ.
KJVBehold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
JPSBehold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil; Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that trail down from mount Gilead.
2
Thomsonthy teeth like the flocks of shorn sheep; which have just come up from the washing pool: they are all twins and there is not one defective among them.
BrentonThy teeth are as flocks of shorn sheep, that have gone up from the washing; all of them bearing twins, and there is not a barren one among them.
GreekὈδόντες σου ὡς ἀγέλαι τῶν κεκαρμένων, αἳ ἀνέβησαν ἀπὸ τοῦ λουτροῦ, αἱ πᾶσαι διδυμεύουσαι, καὶ ἀτεκνοῦσα οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐταῖς.
KJVThy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
JPSThy teeth are like a flock of ewes all shaped alike, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof all are paired, and none faileth among them.
3
ThomsonThy lips are like a braid of scarlet and thy speech is graceful: as the skin of a pomegranate, so are thy cheeks, now thy veil is removed.
BrentonThy lips are as a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: like the rind of a pomegranate is thy cheek without thy veil.
GreekὩς σπάρτίον τὸ κόκκικον χείλη σου, καὶ ἡ λαλιά σου ὡραῖα, ὡς λέπυρον ῥοᾶς μῆλόν σου ἐκτὸς τῆς σιωπήσεώς σου.
KJVThy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
JPSThy lips are like a thread of scarlet, And thy mouth is comely; Thy temples are like a pomegranate split open Behind thy veil.
4
ThomsonThy neck is like the tower of David, which was built for an armoury: on it are hung a thousand shields; all the javelins of the worthies.
BrentonThy neck is as the tower of David, that was built for an armoury: a thousand shields hang upon it, and all darts of mighty men.
GreekὩς πύργος Δαυὶδ τράχηλός σου, ὁ ᾠκοδομημένος εἰς θαλπιώθ· χίλιοι θυρεοὶ κρέμανται ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, πᾶσαι βολίδες τῶν δυνατῶν.
KJVThy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
JPSThy neck is like the tower of David Builded with turrets, Whereon there hang a thousand shields, All the armour of the mighty men.
5
ThomsonThy two breasts are like two twin fawns of a roe; which are browzing among lillies.
BrentonThy two breasts are as two twin fawns, that feed among the lilies.
GreekΔύο μαστοί σου ὡς δύο νεβροὶ δίδυμοι δορκάδος οἱ νεμόμενοι ἐν κρίνοις,
KJVThy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.
JPSThy two breasts are like two fawns That are twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies.
6
ThomsonTill the day breeze spring up and the shades are removed, I will go by myself to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
BrentonUntil the day dawn, and the shadows depart, I will betake me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Greekἕως οὗ διαπνεύσῃ ἡμέρα καὶ κινηθῶσιν αἱ σκιαί· πορεύσομαι ἐμαυτῷ πρὸς τὸ ὄρος τῆς σμύρνης καὶ πρὸς τὸν βουνὸν τοῦ λιβάνου.
KJVUntil the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
JPSUntil the day breathe, And the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, And to the hill of frankincense.
7
ThomsonThou art altogether fair, my love; and there is no blemish in thee.
BrentonThou art all fair, my companion, and there is no spot in thee.
GreekὍλη καλὴ εἶ πλησίον μου, καὶ μῶμος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν σοί.
KJVThou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
JPSThou art all fair, my love; And there is no spot in thee.
8
ThomsonCome from Lebanon, my bride; come from Lebanon. Thou canst come, yes come safely from the top of Pistis—from the summit of Sanir and Hermon—from lions dens, from the leopards mountains.
BrentonCome from Libanus, my bride, come from Libanus: thou shalt come and pass from the top of Faith, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
GreekΔεῦρο ἀπὸ Λιβάνου νύμφη, δεῦρο ἀπὸ Λιβάνου· ἐλεύσῃ καὶ διελεύσῃ ἀπὸ ἀρχῆς Πίστεως, ἀπὸ κεφαλῆς Σανὶρ καὶ Ἑρμὼν, ἀπὸ μανδρῶν λεόντων, ἀπὸ ὀρέων παρδάλεων.
KJVCome with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
JPSCome with me from Lebanon, my bride, With me from Lebanon; Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions’dens, From the mountains of the leopards.
9
ThomsonThou hast ravished my heart, my sister spouse: thou hast ravished my heart with a glance of thine eyes—with an endearing turn of thy neck.
BrentonMy sister, my spouse, thou hast ravished my heart; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
GreekἘκαρδίωσας ἡμᾶς ἀδελφή μου νύμφη, ἐκαρδίωσας ἡμᾶς ἑνὶ ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου, ἐν μιᾷ ἐνθέματι τραχήλων σου.
KJVThou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
JPSThou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one bead of thy necklace.
10
ThomsonHow beautiful are thy breasts, my sister spouse! how much more pleasing than wine are thy breasts! and the smell of thy garments, than all spices!
BrentonHow beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! how much more beautiful are thy breasts than wine, and the smell of thy garments than all spices!
GreekΤί ἐκαλλιώθησαν μαστοί σου ἀδελφή μου, νύμφη; τί ἐκαλλιώθησαν μαστοί σου ἀπὸ οἴνου, καὶ ὀσμὴ ἱματίων σου ὑπὲρ πάντα ἀρώματα;
KJVHow fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
JPSHow fair is thy love, my sister, my bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the smell of thine ointments than all manner of spices!
11
Thomsonthy lips, my spouse, drop as a honeycomb: honey and milk flow from thy tongue: and the fragrance of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
BrentonThy lips drop honeycomb, my spouse: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is as the smell of Libanus.
GreekΚηρίον ἀποστάζουσι χείλη σου νύμφη· μέλι καὶ γάλα ὑπὸ τὴν γλῶσσάν σου· καὶ ὀσμὴ ἱματίων σου, ὡς ὀσμὴ Λιβάνου.
KJVThy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
JPSThy lips, O my bride, drop honey— Honey and milk are under thy tongue; And the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12
ThomsonThou art an enclosed garden, my sister spouse: a close-shut garden; a sealed fountain.
BrentonMy sister, my spouse is a garden enclosed; a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed.
GreekΚῆπος κεκλεισμένος ἀδελφή μου νύμφη, κῆπος κεκλεισμένος, πηγὴ ἐσφραγισμένη·
KJVA garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
JPSA garden shut up is my sister, my bride; A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
13
Thomson—
BrentonThy shoots are a garden of pomegranates, with the fruit of choice berries; camphor, with spikenard:
GreekἈποστολαί σου παράδεισος ῥοῶν μετὰ καρποῦ ἀκροδρύων, κύπροι μετὰ νάρδων·
KJVThy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
JPSThy shoots are a park of pomegranates, With precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants,
14
Thomsonspikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon; with all kinds of trees of incense—myrrh, aloth with all the principal spices.
Brentonspikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon; with all woods of Libanus, myrrh, aloes, with all chief spices:
GreekΝάρδος καὶ κρόκος, κάλαμος καὶ κιννάμωμον, μετὰ πάντων ξύλων τοῦ Λιβάνου, σμύρνα, ἀλὼθ, μετὰ πάντων πρώτων μύρων,
KJVSpikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
JPSSpikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
15
ThomsonA garden fountain and a well of living water, flowing with gentle murmurs from Lebanon.
Brentona fountain of a garden, and a well of water springing and gurgling from Libanus.
Greekπηγὴ κήπου, καὶ φρέαρ ὕδατος ζῶντος καὶ ῥοιζοῦντος ἀπὸ τοῦ Λιβάνου.
KJVA fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
JPSThou art a fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And flowing streams from Lebanon.
16
ThomsonAwake O north wind, come also, O south wind and blow gently through my garden, and let my aromatic spices flow. Let my dear brother come down to his garden; and taste the delicious fruits thereof.
BrentonAwake, O north wind; and come, O south; and blow through my garden, and let my spices flow out.
GreekἘξεγέρθητι βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ ἔρχου Νότε, καὶ διάπνευσον κῆπόν μου, καὶ ῥευσάτωσαν ἀρώματά μου.
KJVAwake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
JPSAwake, O north wind; And come, thou south; Blow upon my garden, That the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, And eat his precious fruits.