Song of Songs 1 #catechesis/bible/song-of-songs
[!abstract] The spouse aspires to an union with Christ, their mutual love for one another.
Book: Song of Songs · Song of Songs 2 →
1
GR ᾆσμα ᾀσμάτων ὅ ἐστιν τῷ Σαλωμων
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2
GR φιλησάτω με ἀπὸ φιλημάτων στόματος αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἀγαθοὶ μαστοί σου ὑπὲρ οἶνον
LA Sponsa. Osculetur me osculo oris sui; quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino,
EN Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for your breasts are better than wine,
^2
3
GR καὶ ὀσμὴ μύρων σου ὑπὲρ πάντα τὰ ἀρώματα μύρον ἐκκενωθὲν ὄνομά σου διὰ τοῦτο νεάνιδες ἠγάπησάν σε
LA fragrantia unguentis optimis. Oleum effusum nomen tuum; ideo adolescentulæ dilexerunt te.
EN smelling sweet of the best ointments. Your name is as oil poured out: therefore young maidens have loved you.
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4
GR εἵλκυσάν σε ὀπίσω σου εἰς ὀσμὴν μύρων σου δραμοῦμεν εἰσήνεγκέν με ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὸ ταμίειον αὐτοῦ ἀγαλλιασώμεθα καὶ εὐφρανθῶμεν ἐν σοί ἀγαπήσομεν μαστούς σου ὑπὲρ οἶνον εὐθύτης ἠγάπησέν σε
LA Chorus Adolescentularum. Trahe me, post te curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum. Introduxit me rex in cellaria sua; exsultabimus et lætabimur in te, memores uberum tuorum super vinum. Recti diligunt te.
EN Draw me: we will run after you to the odour of your ointments. The king has brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice in you, remembering your breasts more than wine: the righteous love you.
^4
[!note]- Draw me…
That is, with thy grace: otherwise I should not be able to come to thee. This metaphor shows that we cannot of ourselves come to Christ our Lord, unless he draws us by his grace, which is laid up in his storerooms: that is, in the mysteries of Faith, which God in his goodness and love for mankind hath revealed, first by his servant Moses in the Old Law in figure only, and afterwards in reality by his only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
5
GR μέλαινά εἰμι καὶ καλή θυγατέρες Ιερουσαλημ ὡς σκηνώματα Κηδαρ ὡς δέρρεις Σαλωμων
LA Sponsa. Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiæ Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis.
EN I am black but beautiful, O you daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
^5
[!note]- I am black but beautiful…
That is, the church of Christ founded in humility appearing outwardly afflicted, and as it were black and contemptible; but inwardly, that is, in its doctrine and morality, fair and beautiful. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
6
GR μὴ βλέψητέ με ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι μεμελανωμένη ὅτι παρέβλεψέν με ὁ ἥλιος υἱοὶ μητρός μου ἐμαχέσαντο ἐν ἐμοί ἔθεντό με φυλάκισσαν ἐν ἀμπελῶσιν ἀμπελῶνα ἐμὸν οὐκ ἐφύλαξα
LA Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol. Filii matris meæ pugnaverunt contra me; posuerunt me custodem in vineis: vineam meam non custodivi.
EN Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun has altered my colour: the sons of my mother have fought against me, they have made me the keeper in the vineyards: my vineyard I have not kept.
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7
GR ἀπάγγειλόν μοι ὃν ἠγάπησεν ἡ ψυχή μου ποῦ ποιμαίνεις ποῦ κοιτάζεις ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ μήποτε γένωμαι ὡς περιβαλλομένη ἐπ’ ἀγέλαις ἑταίρων σου
LA Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie, ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.
EN Show me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you lie in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of your companions.
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8
GR ἐὰν μὴ γνῷς σεαυτήν ἡ καλὴ ἐν γυναιξίν ἔξελθε σὺ ἐν πτέρναις τῶν ποιμνίων καὶ ποίμαινε τὰς ἐρίφους σου ἐπὶ σκηνώμασιν τῶν ποιμένων
LA Sponsus. Si ignoras te, o pulcherrima inter mulieres, egredere, et abi post vestigia gregum, et pasce hædos tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum.
EN If you know not yourself, O fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed your kids beside the tents of the shepherds.
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9
GR τῇ ἵππῳ μου ἐν ἅρμασιν Φαραω ὡμοίωσά σε ἡ πλησίον μου
LA Equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis assimilavi te, amica mea.
EN To my company of horsemen, in Pharao’s chariots, have I likened you, O my love.
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10
GR τί ὡραιώθησαν σιαγόνες σου ὡς τρυγόνες τράχηλός σου ὡς ὁρμίσκοι
LA Pulchræ sunt genæ tuæ sicut turturis; collum tuum sicut monilia.
EN Your cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove’s, your neck as jewels.
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11
GR ὁμοιώματα χρυσίου ποιήσομέν σοι μετὰ στιγμάτων τοῦ ἀργυρίου
LA Murenulas aureas faciemus tibi, vermiculatas argento.
EN We will make you chains of gold, inlaid with silver.
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12
GR ἕως οὗ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν ἀνακλίσει αὐτοῦ νάρδος μου ἔδωκεν ὀσμὴν αὐτοῦ
LA Sponsa. Dum esset rex in accubitu suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum.
EN While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the odour thereof.
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13
GR ἀπόδεσμος τῆς στακτῆς ἀδελφιδός μου ἐμοί ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν μαστῶν μου αὐλισθήσεται
LA Fasciculus myrrhæ dilectus meus mihi; inter ubera mea commorabitur.
EN A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my breasts.
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14
GR βότρυς τῆς κύπρου ἀδελφιδός μου ἐμοὶ ἐν ἀμπελῶσιν Εγγαδδι
LA Botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi.
EN A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.
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15
GR ἰδοὺ εἶ καλή ἡ πλησίον μου ἰδοὺ εἶ καλή ὀφθαλμοί σου περιστεραί
LA Sponsus. Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea! ecce tu pulchra es! Oculi tui columbarum.
EN Behold you are fair, O my love, behold you are fair, your eyes are as those of doves.
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16
GR ἰδοὺ εἶ καλός ὁ ἀδελφιδός μου καί γε ὡραῖος πρὸς κλίνη ἡμῶν σύσκιος
LA Sponsa. Ecce tu pulcher es, dilecte mi, et decorus! Lectulus noster floridus.
EN Behold you are fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is flourishing.
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17
GR δοκοὶ οἴκων ἡμῶν κέδροι φατνώματα ἡμῶν κυπάρισσοι
LA Tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina, laquearia nostra cypressina.
EN The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.
^17
[!note]- Let him kiss me…
The Church, the spouse of Christ, prays that he may love and have peace with her, which the spouse prefers to every thing delicious: and therefore expresses (verse 2) that young maidens, that is the souls of the faithful, have loved thee. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
[!note]- If you know not thyself, etc…
Christ encourages his spouse to follow and watch her flock: and though she know not entirely the power at hand to assist her, he tells her (verse 8), my company of horsemen, that is, his angels, are always watching and protecting her. And in the following verses he reminds her of the virtues and gifts with which he has endowed her. Commentary on the Old Testament (1752)
