The Sunamite's Beauty
Song of Songs 7
A woman called the Sunamite has her beauty described from her feet to her head in a series of comparisons. The bride then invites her beloved to go out with her into the fields and vineyards and to see whether the vines have flowered.
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
ThomsonReturn, return, O Sunamite! return, return that we may see thee! What would you see in the Sunamite, who is coming like the moving bands of an army?
BrentonReturn, return, O Sunamite; return, return, and we will look at thee. What will ye see in the Sunamite? She comes as bands of armies.
GreekἘπίστρεφε ἐπίστρεφε ἡ Σουναμίτις· ἐπίστρεφε ἐπίστρεφε, καὶ ὀφόμεθα ἐν σοί. Τί ὄψεσθε ἐν τῇ Σουναμίτιδι; ἡ ἐρχομένη ὡς χοροὶ τῶν παρεμβολῶν.
KJVReturn, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
JPSReturn, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulammite? As it were a dance of two companies.
2
ThomsonHOW beautiful were thy steps in thy sandals, O prince’s daughter! The proportions of thy thighs are like jewelry, the work of an artist:
BrentonThy steps are beautiful in shoes, O daughter of the prince: the joints of thy thighs are like chains, the work of the craftsman.
GreekὩραιώθησαν διαβήματά σου ἐν ὑποδήμασί σου, θύγατερ ναδάβ· ῥυθμοὶ μηρῶν ὅμοιοι ὁρμίσκοις, ἔργον τεχνίτου.
KJVHow beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.
JPSHow beautiful are thy steps in sandals, O prince’s daughter! The roundings of thy thighs are like the links of a chain, The work of the hands of a skilled workman.
3
Thomsonthy navel is a well-turned goblet, not emptied of blended wine: thy body is like a heap of wheat encompassed about with lilies:
BrentonThy navel is as a turned bowl, not wanting liquor; thy belly is as a heap of wheat set about with lilies.
GreekὈμφαλός σου κρατὴρ τορευτὸς, μὴ ὑστερούμενος κράμα· κοιλία σου θημωνία σίτου πεφραγμένη ἐν κρίνοις.
KJVThy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.
JPSThy navel is like a round goblet, wherein no mingled wine is wanting; Thy belly is like a heap of wheat Set about with lilies.
4
Thomsonthy two breasts are like two twin fawns of a roe;
BrentonThy two breasts are as two twin fawns.
GreekΔύο μαστοί σου, ὡς δύο νεβροὶ δίδυμοι δορκάδος.
KJVThy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.
JPSThy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle.
5
Thomsonthy neck is like a tower of ivory. Thine eyes like the pools at Esebon by the gates of the daughter of many: thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looketh towards Damascus:
BrentonThy neck is as an ivory tower; thine eyes are as pools in Esebon, by the gates of the daughter of many: thy nose is as the tower of Libanus, looking toward Damascus.
GreekὉ τράχηλός σου ὡς πύργος ἐλεφάντινος· οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὡς λίμναι ἐν Ἐσεβὼν, ἐν πύλαις θυγατρὸς πολλῶν· μυκτήρ σου, ὡς πύργος τοῦ Λιβάνου σκοπεύων πρόσωπον Δαμασκοῦ.
KJVThy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
JPSThy neck is as a tower of ivory; Thine eyes as the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looketh toward Damascus.
6
Thomsonthy head is like Karmel and the tresses of thy head like Purpura. The king is detained in the antechamber!
BrentonThy head upon thee is as Carmel, and the curls of thy hair like scarlet; the king is bound in the galleries.
GreekΚεφαλή σου ἐπὶ σὲ ὡς Κάρμηλος, καὶ πλόκιον κεφαλῆς σου ὡς πορφύρα· βασιλεὺς δεδεμένος ἐν παραδρομαῖς.
KJVThine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
JPSThy head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thy head like purple; The king is held captive in the tresses thereof.
7
ThomsonHow beautiful thou art! and how sweet! O my love! how delightful!
BrentonHow beautiful art thou, and how sweet art thou, my love!
GreekΤί ὡραιώθης, καὶ τί ἡδύνθης ἀγάπη;
KJVHow fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
JPSHow fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! .
8
ThomsonIn respect to thy stateliness, thou hast been compared to the palm tree, and thy breasts to its clusters.
BrentonThis is thy greatness in thy delights: thou wast made like a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters.
Greekἐν τρυφαῖς σου τοῦτο μέγεθός σου· ὡμοιώθης τῷ φοίνικι, καὶ οἱ μαστοί σου τοῖς βότρυσιν.
KJVThis thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
JPSThis thy stature is like to a palm-tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
9
ThomsonI said, I will climb the palm tree—I will clasp its topmost boughs; and thy breasts shall be now like the clusters of the vine; and the smell of thy nose like citrons;
BrentonI said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its high boughs: and now shall thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose as apples;
GreekΕἶπα, ἀναβήσομαι ἐπὶ τῷ φοίνικι, κρατήσω τῶν ὕψεων αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔσονται δὴ μαστοί σου ὡς βότρυες τῆς ἀμπέλου, καὶ ὀσμὴ ῥινός σου ὡς μῆλα,
KJVI said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;
JPSI said: ‘I will climb up into the palm-tree, I will take hold of the branches thereof; and let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, And the smell of thy countenance like apples;
10
Thomsonand the roof of thy mouth like choice wine— Which is poured out rightly for my dear brother properly adapted with my lips and my teeth.
Brentonand thy throat as good wine, going well with my kinsman, suiting my lips and teeth.
Greekκαὶ ὁ λάρυγξ σου ὡς οἶνος ὁ ἀγαθὸς, πορευόμενος τῷ ἀδελφιδῷ μου εἰς εὐθύτητα, ἱκανούμενος χείλεσί μου καὶ ὀδοῦσιν.
KJV—
JPS—
11
ThomsonI am my dear brother’s; and towards me is his desire.
BrentonI am my kinsman's, and his desire is toward me.
GreekἘγὼ τῷ ἀδελφιδῷ μου, καὶ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ ἐπιστροφὴ αὐτοῦ.
KJVI am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.
JPSI am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.
12
ThomsonCome, my dear brother, let us go out to the fields. Let us lodge in the villages:
BrentonCome, my kinsman, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.
GreekἘλθὲ ἀδελφιδέ μου, ἐξέλθωμεν εἰς ἀγρὸν, αὐλισθῶμεν ἐν κώμαις.
KJVCome, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.
JPSCome, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.
13
Thomsonlet us get up early to the vineyards: let us see whether the vine is budded: whether the young grape has made its appearance: whether the pomegranates are in blossom. There I will grant thee my breasts.
BrentonLet us go early into the vineyards; let us see if the vine has flowered, if the blossoms have appeared, if the pomegranates have blossomed; there will I give thee my breasts.
GreekὈρθρίσωμεν εἰς ἀμπελῶνας· ἴδωμεν εἰ ἤνθησεν ἡ ἄμπελος, ἤνθησεν ὁ κυπρισμὸς, ἤνθησν αἱ ῥοαί· ἐκεῖ δώσω τοὺς μαστούς μου σοί.
KJVLet us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
JPSLet us get up early to the vineyards; let us see whether the vine hath budded, whether the vine-blossom be opened, and the pomegranates be in flower; there will I give thee my love.
14
ThomsonThe mandrakes have shed a fragrance: and in our hoards are all manner of delicious fruits, newly gathered as well as old. For thee, my dear brother I have kept them.
BrentonThe mandrakes have given a smell, and at our doors are all kinds of choice fruits, new and old. O my kinsman, I have kept them for thee.
GreekΟἱ μανδραγόραι ἔδωκαν ὀσμήν· καὶ ἐπὶ θύραις ἡμῶν πάντα ἀκρόδρυα νέα πρὸς παλαιὰ, ἀδελφιδέ μου, ἐτήρησά σοι.
KJVThe mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
JPSThe mandrakes give forth fragrance, and at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.