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Don't look down on me because of my color,
    because the sun has tanned me.
My brothers were angry with me
    and made me work in the vineyard.
    I had no time to care for myself.
Tell me, my love,
    Where will you lead your flock to graze?
    Where will they rest from the noonday sun?
Why should I need to look for you
    among the flocks of the other shepherds?[a]

The Man

Don't you know the place, loveliest of women?
Go and follow the flock;
    find pasture for your goats
    near the tents of the shepherds.

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 1:7 Probable text Why should I … shepherds; Hebrew unclear.

Do not stare at me because I am dark,
    because I am darkened by the sun.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
    and made me take care of the vineyards;(A)
    my own vineyard I had to neglect.
Tell me, you whom I love,
    where you graze your flock
    and where you rest your sheep(B) at midday.
Why should I be like a veiled(C) woman
    beside the flocks of your friends?

Friends

If you do not know, most beautiful of women,(D)
    follow the tracks of the sheep
and graze your young goats
    by the tents of the shepherds.

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