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The benefit of a good name.

ECCLESIASTES.

Difficulty of getting wisdom. 11 When goods increase, they are increased 2¶T It is better to go to the house of mourning, that eat them: and what good is there to the than to go to the house of feasting: for that is owners thereof, saving the beholding of them the end of all men; and the living will lay it to with their eyes? his heart.

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadwhether he eat little or much: but the abun-ness of the countenance the heart is made better. dance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourn13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under ing; but the heart of fools is in the house of the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners mirth. thereof to their hurt.

14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, raked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools: 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. 7¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sick-former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

ness.

18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good 11 ¶ Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him for it is his portion.

19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

CHAP. VI.

The vanity of riches without use. THERE is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men : 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a
defence but the excellency of knowledge is,
that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13 Consider the work of God: for who can
make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the
day of adversity consider: God also hath set the
one over against the other, to the end that man
should find nothing after him.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of 3 ¶ If a man beget a hundred children, and live this; yea, also from this withdraw not thy hand. many years, so that the days of his years be for he that feareth God shall come forth of them many, and his soul be not filled with good, and all. also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

5 Morcover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 Also take no heed unto all words that are
spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee
22 For oftentimes also thine own heart know
eth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said,
I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep,
who can find it out?

25 I applied my heart to know, and to search,
and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things,
and to know the wickedness of folly, even of

9¶ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wan-foolishness and madness:
dering of the desire: this is also vanity and vex-
ation of spirit.

10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

11 ¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

CHAP. VII.

Remedies against vanity, &c.

A GOOD name is better than precious oint

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman
whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands
as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from
her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher,
counting one by one, to find out the account;
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not:
one man among a thousand have I found; but
a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath
made man upright; but they have sought out
many inventions.

CHAP. VIII.
Rulers are to be respected.

ment; and the day of death than the day WHO is as the wise man? and who knoweth

of one's birth.

the interpretation of a thing? a man's

God's works unsearchable.

CHAP. IX, X.

Wisdom better than strength. wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the bold- 4 T For to him that is joined to all the living ness of his face shall be changed. there is hope: for a living dog is better than a

2 I counsel thee to keep the king's command-dead lion. ment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but 3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not the dead know not any thing, neither have they in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleas- any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

eth him.

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their and who may say unto him, What doest thou? envy, is now perished; neither have they any 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel more a portion for ever in any thing that is done no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discern-under the sun.

eth both time and judgment.

7 Ge thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and 6 Because to every purpose there is time and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for Gol judgment, therefore the misery of man is great now accepteth thy works. upon him. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for thy head lack no ointment. who can tell him when it shall be?

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest 8 There is no man that hath power over the all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy in the day of death and there is no discharge vanity for that is thy portion in this life, and in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. those that are given to it. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart with thy might; for there is no work, nor deunto every work that is done under the sun: vice, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, there is a time wherein one man ruleth over whither thou goest. another to his own hurt.

11 ¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that 10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the come and gone from the place of the holy, and strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet they were forgotten in the city where they had riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour so done: this is also vanity. to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the 12 ¶ Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, birds that are caught in the snare; so are the song and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth that it shall be well with them that fear God, suddenly upon them. which fear before him:

13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a 14 There was a little city, and few men with shadow; because he feareth not before God. in it; and there came a great king against it, and 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: earth; that there be just men, unto whom it 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, happeneth according to the work of the wicked: and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet again, there be wicked men, to whom it happen- no man remembered that same poor man. eth according to the work of the righteous: I 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: said that this also is vanity. nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

16 ¶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes :)

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. CHAP. X.

Observations on wisdom and folly.

DEAL

EAD flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a doth a little folly him that is in reputation for man cannot find out the work that is done under wisdom and honour. the sun because though a man labour to seek it 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but o it, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a fool's heart is at his left. a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

CHAP. IX.

God's Providence ruleth over all. For are all this, that the righteous, and the NOR all this I considered in my heart even to

wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee,
offences.
leave not thy place; for yielding pacificth great

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the
sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit

2 All things come alike to all: there is one in low place. event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him 9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt there. 3 This is an evi among all things that are done with; and he that cleaveth wood shall be en. under the sun, that there is one event unto all: dangered thereby.

yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of 10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the evil, and madness is in their heart while they edge, then must he put to more strengtå: but live, and after that they go to the dead..

wisdom is profitable to direct.

Of riot, slothfulness, &c.

SOLOMON'S SONG.

The whole duty of man. 11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchant- and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the ment; and a babbler is no better. sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gra- these things God will bring thee into judgment. cious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, himself. and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 Wo to thee, O land, when thy king is a chiid, and thy princes eat in the morning!

R

CHAP. XII.

The Creator must be remembered. EMEMBER now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of the house 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due themselves, and the grinders cease because they season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! are few, and those that look out of the windows 18 1 By much slothfulness the building decay-be darkened,

eth; and through idleness of the hands the 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, house droppeth through. when the sound of the grinding is low, and he 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the maketh merry: but money answereth all things. daughters of music shall be brought low;

20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper which hath wings shall tell the matter. shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

CHAP. XI.

Directions for charity.

CAST thy bread upon the waters: for thou 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden shalt find it after many days.

bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it the earth. was: and the spirit shall return unto God who

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty them- gave it. selves upon the earth: and if the tree fall to-8 ¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all ward the south, or toward the north, in the is vanity.

place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he still taught the people knowledge: yea, he he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written, was upright, even words of truth.

6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the even- 11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as ing withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which not whether shall prosper, either this or that, are given from one shepherd. or whether they both shall be alike good.

12 And further, by these, my son, be admonish

7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing ed: of making many books there is no end; and it is for the eyes to behold the sun : much study is a weariness of the flesh.

8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole them all; yet let him remember the days of dark-matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: ness; for they shall be many. All that cometh for this is the whole duty of man. is vanity. 14 For God shall bring every work into judg9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and ment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, or whether it be evil.

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The church's love to Christ.

THE Song of songs, which is Solomon's.

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better than wine. 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the King hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 51 cm black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul love h, where
thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest
at noon: for why should I be as one that turn-
eth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among wo-
men, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the
flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds'

tents.

9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. 10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

12 ¶ While the King sitteth at his table, my 6 Look not upon me, because I am black, be- spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. cause the sun hath looked upon me: my mo- 13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto ther's children were angry with me; they made me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own 14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of cam. vineyard have I not kepi. own phire in the vineyards of En-gedi.

Carist's care of the church.

CHAP. II, II, IV, V.

His love to the church 15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou every man hath his sword upon his thigh beart fair; thou hast doves' eyes. cause of fear in the night.

16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

CHAP. II.

Of Christ and his church.

9 King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

I AM the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the Goforth, Ove daughters of Zion, and behold

valleys.

As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3 As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. 1 sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his

fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

71 charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. 8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

9 My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. il For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. CHAP. III.

The church's victory, &c.

Y By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

king Solomon with crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals and in the day of the gladness of his heart. CHAP. IV.

The graces of the church. BEHOLD, 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.

2 Thy 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.

3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy
speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece
of a pomegranate within thy locks.
4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded
for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand
bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
5 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that
are twins, which feed among the lilies.
6 Until the day break, and the shadows flee
away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of frankincense.

7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot
in thee.

8 Come 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. 9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. 10 How 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! 11 Thy 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.

12 A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinna mon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

15 Á fountain of gardens, a well of living wa 2 I will rise now, and go about the city in the ters, and streams from Lebanon.

streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him 16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found south; blow upon my garden, that the spices him not.

3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

A It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits CHAP. V.

A description of Christ.

AM come into my garden, my sister, my spouse I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. 2 TI sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on 1 I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon's: threescore 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 8 They all hold swords, being expert in war: 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my

5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. 6 ¶ Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the mer

chant?

371

Christ's love to the church.

SOLOMON'S SONG.

The church's love to Christ. hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunsweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the ning workman.

lock.

2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which want. eth not liquor; thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies.

61 opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not 3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. are twins. 7 The watchmen that went about the city found 4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes me, they smote me, they wounded me: the keep-like the fish-pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Leba

ers of the walls took away my vail from me.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if non which looketh toward Damascus. ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am 5 Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, and the sick of love. hair of thy head like purple; the King is held in the galleries.

9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefes: among ten thousand.

11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! 7 This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

8 I 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;

12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. 9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine 13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, caus flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet-ing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. smelling myrrh. 10 T I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, Ŏ daughters of Jerusalem.

CHAP. VI.

The church professeth her faith.

WHITHER is thy beloved gone, thou fair

est among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. 2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

3 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12 Let 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.

13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, C my beloved. CHAP. VIII.

Love of the church to Christ.

THAT thou wert as my brother, that suck ed the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.

2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. 5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilder6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go ness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up up from the washing, whereof every one beareth under the apple-tree: there thy mother brought twins, and there is not one barren among them. thee forth: there she brought thee forth that 7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples bare thee. within thy locks.

8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number

6 1 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, can the floods drown it: if a man would give and they praised her. all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

10 ¶ Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?

11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. 12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Ammi-nadib.

13 Return, 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.

CHAP. VII.

The graces of the church.

How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs

81 We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

12 My vineyard which is mine, is before me:

thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred

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