How fair and pleasant you are,
O loved one, delectable maiden!
You are stately as a palm tree,
and your breasts are like its clusters.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree
and lay hold of its branches.”
O may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
and the scent of your breath like apples,
and your kisses like the best wine
that goes down smoothly,
gliding over lips and teeth.מַה־יָּפִית֙ וּמַה־נָּעַ֔מְתְּ אַהֲבָ֖ה בַּתַּֽעֲנוּגִֽים׃
זֹ֤את קֽוֹמָתֵךְ֙ דָּֽמְתָ֣ה לְתָמָ֔ר וְשָׁדַ֖יִךְ לְאַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת׃
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶעֱלֶ֣ה בְתָמָ֔ר אֹֽחֲזָ֖ה בְּסַנְסִנָּ֑יו וְיִֽהְיוּ־נָ֤א שָׁדַ֙יִךְ֙ כְּאֶשְׁכְּל֣וֹת הַגֶּ֔פֶן וְרֵ֥יחַ אַפֵּ֖ךְ כַּתַּפּוּחִֽים׃
וְחִכֵּ֕ךְ כְּיֵ֥ין הַטּ֛וֹב הוֹלֵ֥ךְ לְדוֹדִ֖י לְמֵישָׁרִ֑ים דּוֹבֵ֖ב שִׂפְתֵ֥י יְשֵׁנִֽים׃The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 22. Song of Songs (of Solomon; Canticles) 7: 6ff (Song (Cant) 7:6-9), Poem 5 [tr. NRSV (2021 ed.)]
(Source)
The speakers of different lines in the Song are not identified in the original text, but interpolated by different scholars and traditions (not always the same way).
There is uncertainty as to the actual meaning in the Hebrew of the last line, with different translation traditions shown below.
(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!
This thy stature is like to a palm tree,
and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
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;
and the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved,
that goeth down sweetly,
causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
[tr. KJV (1611)]BRIDEGROOM: How beautiful you are, how charming,
my love, my delight!
In stature like the palm tree,
its fruit-clusters your breasts.
"I will climb the palm tree," I resolved,
"I will seize its clusters of dates."
May your breasts be clusters of grapes,
your breath sweet-scented as apples,
your speaking, superlative wine.
BRIDE: Wine flowing straight to my Beloved,
as it runs on the lips of those who sleep.
[tr. JB (1966)]LOVER: How beautiful you are, how charming,
my love, my delight!
In stature like the palm tree,
its fruit-clusters your breasts.
I have decided, "I shall climb the palm tree,
I shall seize its clusters of dates"
May your breasts be clusters of grapes,
your breath sweet-scented as apples,
and your palate like sweet wine.
BELOVED: Flowing down the throat of my love,
as it runs on the lips of those who sleep.
[tr. NJB (1985)]THE MAN: How pretty you are, how beautiful;
how complete the delights of your love.
You are as graceful as a palm tree,
and your breasts are clusters of dates.
I will climb the palm tree
and pick its fruit.
To me your breasts are like bunches of grapes,
your breath like the fragrance of apples,
and your mouth like the finest wine.
THE WOMAN: Then let the wine flow straight to my lover,
flowing over his lips and teeth.
[tr. GNT (1992 ed.)]MAN: You are so beautiful, so lovely --
my love, delightful one!
Your stately form resembles a date palm,
and your breasts are like clustered fruit.
I say, “I will climb the palm tree;
I will hold its fruit!”
May your breasts be now
like grape clusters,
and the scent of your breath like apples!
Your palate is like excellent wine ...
WOMAN: ... flowing smoothly for my love,
gliding through the lips and teeth.
[tr. CEB (2011)]How fair you are, how beautiful!
O Love, with all its rapture!
Your stately form is like the palm,
Your breasts are like clusters.
I say: Let me climb the palm,
Let me take hold of its branches;
Let your breasts be like clusters of grapes,
Your breath like the fragrance of apples,
And your mouth like choicest wine.
“Let it flow to my beloved as new wine
Gliding over the lips of sleepers.”
[tr. RJPS (2023 ed.) 7:7-10]
