Study Desk

Women of Jerusalem, I am dark but beautiful, dark as the desert tents of Kedar, but beautiful as the draperies in Solomon's palace.

But we will make for you a chain of gold with ornaments of silver.

Asleep on my bed, night after night I dreamed of the one I love; I was looking for him, but couldn't find him.

I went wandering through the city, through its streets and alleys. I looked for the one I love. I looked, but couldn't find him.

I opened the door for my lover, but he had already gone. How I wanted to hear his voice! I looked for him, but couldn't find him; I called to him, but heard no answer.

But I love only one, and she is as lovely as a dove. She is her mother's only daughter, her mother's favorite child. All women look at her and praise her; queens and concubines sing her praises.

Close your heart to every love but mine; hold no one in your arms but me. Love is as powerful as death; passion is as strong as death itself. It bursts into flame and burns like a raging fire.

Water cannot put it out; no flood can drown it. But if any tried to buy love with their wealth, contempt is all they would get.

If she is a wall, we will build her a silver tower. But if she is a gate, we will protect her with panels of cedar.

Cattle know who owns them, and donkeys know where their master feeds them. But that is more than my people Israel know. They don't understand at all."

The Lord says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool.

But if you defy me, you are doomed to die. I, the Lord , have spoken."

The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain.

Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water.

But he will crush everyone who sins and rebels against him; he will kill everyone who forsakes him.

But he will answer, "Not me! I can't help you. I don't have any food or clothes either. Don't make me your leader!"

But evil people are doomed; what they have done to others will now be done to them.

But I will punish them—I will shave their heads and leave them bald."

When that time comes, seven women will grab hold of one man and say, "We can feed and clothe ourselves, but please let us say you are our husband, so that we won't have to endure the shame of being unmarried."

He dug the soil and cleared it of stones; he planted the finest vines. He built a tower to guard them, dug a pit for treading the grapes. He waited for the grapes to ripen, but every grape was sour.