A Wonderful Song about Love

An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Song o Songs
www.easyenglish.info

Mark Kirkpatrick
This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. Words in boxes are from the Bible. A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them.

About the Song of Songs

The ong of ongs ! ong" is in a special group of books in the #ld *Testament. This is called the $wisdom% group. &ob' (roverbs' )cclesiastes and some (salms' are also in this group. There are different opinions about the date of the book. *f olomon wrote the book' the date would be the tenth century B.C. !That is' +,,, years before &esus% birth." ome people think that the book is from the fourth or third century B.C. But this would be a very late date. The book is a poem. ome people think that only one person wrote it. There are similar ideas and pictures in the whole book. The main idea is always love. *t is always the spring season in the book. (eople speak to each other in the whole book. There are certain words !$my love%" that the writer often uses. o the same types of ideas happen again and again. -owever' it is possible that other people made a few changes to it during a period of time. *t is a poem about love. *t shows the best way in which we can show love. This is when a man and a woman marry. Then they can en.oy each other in a closer way. At the start of the book' the man and woman are careful about their behaviour. But they get closer together in the later part of the book. They do not have sex until they are married to each other.

The Author
We do not know who wrote the book. (erhaps olomon wrote it. This would not be a surprise. -e had /,, wives. -e also had 0,, other women who could comfort him !+ 1ings ++2+30". (erhaps the song was part of a royal wedding. olomon really cared about the women whom he loved. *n this way' he was like many men. (erhaps the book uses him as a *symbol of these men. The name $ olomon% appears many times in the book. #ften this refers to luxury. *t is probably a *symbol of the best thing. (erhaps the author was a poet who lived at the palace of olomon. 4aybe he wrote the poem as a present for olomon.

The poem as a *symbol

4any people have said that the poem is a *symbol. The book is about love and this has worried people. *t surprises them that the book is in the Bible. Because of this' different people have suggested different meanings for the book. #ne is that the lover !the man" is 5od. And the woman is *srael. Another idea is that the man is Christ. And the woman is the church. (eople have complicated these ideas. *t then becomes difficult to know which *symbol means which person. Therefore' it is much easier to take a simple approach to the poem. *t is easier to say that the poem is about love. *t is also about sex after marriage.

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When people marry

The book shows that there is a right use of sex. This should only happen when people marry. The two lovers probably marry each other during the story. 5od says that this is the right way !5enesis 62678 4ark +,293:". #ther types of agreements may be like the time when people marry. But they are not part of 5od%s plan.

Chapter 1
v1 The most beautiful of songs' by olomon. ;erse + These words tell us about the book. They are similar to the words at the beginning of many psalms. But there are no musical instructions. The book was in a collection of songs. The *-ebrew words might mean that the song belonged to olomon. The *-ebrew words might also mean that someone else wrote the song for olomon.

The First Song

The Woman
v2 <our lips give me many kisses. <our love is better than wine. v3 <our *perfume smells wonderful. But your name is better than the best *perfume. That is why the young women love you. v4 Take me away with you' and we will run away. =et the king bring me into his room. We are very happy for you. We will say that your love is better than wine. -ow right the women are to love you> v5 * am dark but lovely too' young women of &erusalem. * am dark like the tents of 1edar. But * am beautiful as olomon%s curtains. v ?o not stare at me because * am dark. The sunshine has made me dark. 4y brothers were angry with me. They made me look after the *vineyards. o * could not look after my own *vineyard. v! <ou are the only person that * love. Tell me where you feed your sheep. Tell me where you rest your sheep at midday. #r * will be like a woman who *veils herself. And * will sit among the *flocks of your friends. ;erse 6 A woman begins to speak. *n the *-ebrew' the word $kiss% sounds similar to the words $to give a drink%. (roverbs /2+@ says $=et us drink until we are completely full of love.% ong 72+, has a similar idea. ;erse 0 This is the only place in the book where there is the word $name%. But the man means much more to her than his name. (erhaps he uses expensive *perfumes. #ils of *perfume have the idea of good health. o' many women love him. ;erse 7 This is a difficult verse. The *-ebrew can mean different things. (erhaps the room is in olomon%s palace. But it does not really matter where the room is. The appeal to run away together happens often in the book. *t is a strong desire of the woman. Then she can be free from her brothers. he and the man only want to be alone.
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;erse A The sunshine has affected her skin. *t has made her darker than her companions. he is still beautiful. *t is only the woman who speaks to the young women of &erusalem. This group helps in the ong. o the ong is also like a play. They can ask Buestions. (erhaps they are part of a wedding group. 1edar was south3east of ?amascus. 1edar also refers to a group of people who travelled near the desert. The woman contrasts the tough tents with the beautiful curtains of olomon. ;erse 9 -er brothers have forced her to work in the sunshine. o she is dark. he does not say why the brothers were angry with her. (erhaps they wanted to keep her away from young men. -er *vineyard was important to her. Then' after her marriage' she could give her $fruit% to her husband ! ong 72+9". *;ineyard is probably a *symbol in the ong. *t probably means the woman%s body. ;erse / The word $sheep% is not in the *-ebrew. But it probably means what our translation says. olomon was a ruler. o he looked after people. A shepherd is a man who looks after sheep. o it was as if olomon was the shepherd of the people. The woman pretends that she cannot find the man.

The Frien"s
v# <ou are such a beautiful woman> (erhaps you do not know where to go. Collow the tracks of the sheep. =et your young goats eat by the *shepherd%s tents.

The $an
v% =et me describe you' my *dear. <ou are like a *mare of one of (haraoh%s *chariots. v1& <our hair is beautiful upon your cheeks. o is your neck with its precious stones. v11 We will make a chain of gold for you. We will use silver to make you pretty. ;erse @ The woman is looking for the man. The young women from &erusalem tell the young girl to look carefully. he is not looking hard enough. (erhaps it is the man who speaks here. *f so' he pretends that it is difficult to find him. But she will find him with his sheep. *n other words' he will be working. ;erse : This is the first time that we have the words $my *dear%. These words appear nine times in the ong. (haraoh was the king of )gypt. *n fact' *mares never pulled *chariots in )gypt. 4ale horses pulled the *chariots. And (haraoh%s soldiers trained these horses to behave well. But sometimes a mare would be among the male horses. And that would excite them. But perhaps the verse means that both *mare !the woman" and horse !the man" look good. ;erse +, The woman is wearing something round her neck. -owever' it is not clear what this is. *t might be her hair that goes round and round. This then makes a pattern. #r the man may be describing different types of precious stones. ;erse ++ The man wants to use the best materials to make her pretty. Then she can look like a royal person. And she will be suitable to be his wife. Demember that the man might be 1ing olomon.

The Woman
v12 The king is at his table. The smell of my *perfume is in the air. v13 4y lover is like a collection of *perfumes. This lies all night between my breasts. v14 4y lover is like a bundle of henna flowers. These flowers are from )ngedi.
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*t is where people make wine. ;erse +6 The word $king% means the woman%s lover. This verse seems to describe a special meal. But some people have other ideas. The *-ebrew uses the word $circle% here. This could also mean a bed. o perhaps this verse refers to sex. The woman may be thinking about the special times that she and the man would en.oy after their marriage. ;erse +0 The $collection% is a small bag of *perfume. *t is something that is very close to her. he has a strong feeling for her man. ;erse +7 -enna is a type of bush. *t has white flowers that have a *perfume. )ngedi is near the ?ead ea. *t was an important place where people made wine.

The $an
v15 -ow beautiful you are' my *dear> #h> -ow beautiful> <ou have eyes like *dove%s eyes.

The Woman
v1 <ou are so handsome' my *dear8 <ou are such a delight to me. #ur bed will be green. v1! We can have wood from tall trees. We can use it in our house. We can use other types of wood for our ceiling.

Chapter 2
v1 * am only a wild flower from haron' a wild flower of the valleys.

The $an
v2 <ou are like a wild flower' a wild flower among *thorns. <ou are my very *dear woman among women. Chapter + ;erse +A *n this group of verses' the lovers praise each other. &eremiah 7@26@ describes a *dove that likes high places. (erhaps the man means that he is looking at her eyes. But' for the moment' he cannot reach her. *?oves are birds with a pleasant character. o the man may be saying that she has a pleasant character. ;erse +9 *n the Bible' the word $green% is almost always with the word $tree%. The bed is probably very pretty' like a tree. *t is not a simple one. ;erse +/ This is the only place in the #ld *Testament where we have the word $ceiling%. o it is not certain what the *-ebrew means. (erhaps the house is not a real house. (erhaps the couple are outside. The branches of the trees seem to make their $ceiling%. Chapter 6 ;erse + (eople do not agree about this verse. (erhaps the woman says that she is not special. he is only one among many girls. But this is not likely. he probably means that she is the centre of his life. The flower is probably the lotus. 4any people used this flower in art. ome psalms !(salm 7A8 (salm 9:8 (salm @," have music for the *lotus. ;erse 6 The man says that she is very special. he is better than the other women. *f she is like a flower' the other women seem like *thorns to him. *t is as if she is the only flower for him. -e loves only her.

The Woman
v3 <ou are like an apple tree.

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This tree is among the trees of the forest. This is what you are like among young men. * sit in your shade with great pleasure. <our apples taste good. They are sweet. v4 -e has taken me to his house. *t is where he has special meals. )veryone can see how much he loves me. v5 -e has made me strong again with his fruit. * feel much better with his apples> * am weak with love. v -is left hand is under my head. And he touches me softly with his right hand. v! Women of &erusalem' make a promise to me. Think about the wild *gaEelles and *deer as you make this promise. ?o not think about love until the right time. ;erse 0 The woman says that the man is also very special. Cruit trees do not usually grow in a forest. At this period' some people associated apples with women and desire for sex. Also' people used apples in art. They painted them on pots. The man%s shade !or shadow" has the feeling of delight and comfort. #r perhaps she means that the man is protecting her. ;erse 7 *n the *-ebrew' the $house% is a house of wine. This might be a *vineyard. The *-ebrew also uses the word $flag% in this verse. *t was a type of *symbol. An army would carry flags so that everyone could see it. And everyone could see that this couple love each other. (erhaps the $special meals% refer to a wedding meal. ;erse A he needs his love. he feels weak without him. ;erse 9 Both the man and woman now seem to be lying down. -e is gentle. And his love seems wonderful to her. ;erse / At this period' *gaEelles and *deer were *symbols of the .oys of love. These animals mate only at the right time of year. The woman asks the young women of &erusalem to make a promise. he does not want anyone to tempt her with love before the right time. *n the future' there will be another part to their love F marriage. he does not yet want to have sex with the man. *t is not yet the right time to marry him.

The Se'on" Song

The Woman
v# =isten> 4y lover> =ook> -ere he comes> -e is .umping across the mountains. -e is .umping over the hills. v% 4y lover is like a *gaEelle. #r' like a young *deer. -e is like an animal that can run fast. =ook at him' as he stands next to the wall. -e looks in through the window. -e looks through the wooden bars. v1& 4y lover speaks to me.

The $an
Come then' woman whom * love.

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4y *dearest' come with me. v11 =ook' the winter is over' the rains have come and gone. v12 Clowers appear in the country8 birds are singing. *n the fields' people can hear the song of *doves. v13 <oung *figs are growing on the *fig trees. mell the flowers on the*vines. 5et up' my *dear' my beautiful lady. Come with me. v14 <ou are like a *dove that hides in holes in the cliffs. *t is as if you are hiding in secret places in the cliffs. =et me see your face. =et me hear your voice. <our voice is so pleasant' and your face is so lovely. v15 Catch the foxes for us. These little foxes spoil the *vineyard. There are flowers in our *vineyard now.

The Woman
v1 4y lover is mine and * am his> 4y lover eats among the *lotuses. v1! Turn' my lover' until the day begins. And until the shadows go away. <ou should be like a *gaEelle' or a young *deer on the mountains of Bether. ;erses @3+,a The woman now uses a *symbol that has energy. he compares the man with a *gaEelle. -e has few limits. he takes the idea further. he imagines that he is a wild animal. And that animal is looking through her window. But he has courage. -e cannot stay away from her. (erhaps the man suggests that they run away together. They could go to the mountains. ;erses +,b3++ The woman is more than a companion for the man. he is his $*dear%. =ater' in ong 72@3+A' he will call her his $sister% and $bride%. We now have a beautiful picture of spring. (eople often link spring with love. 4any other writers have done this. This is the only place in the #ld *Testament where we have the word $winter%. *n *srael' most of the rain comes in winter. ;erse +6 *n *-ebrew' the word $sing% can also mean $to cut back%. *saiah sometimes uses this word in this way !+@2739". (eople cut their *vines in the spring. *?oves usually arrived in spring. o' in both cases' this is a description of spring. ;erse +0 The *fig tree was an important tree in ancient *srael. *t was also a *symbol of peace. *n this way' it was like the *vine. The *fig was also a *symbol of *srael itself. But probably this verse is still about spring. ;erse +7 The woman is like a bird. *n the cliffs' she is difficult for the man to reach. This is a common idea in the man%s songs. -e cannot get to her. -e wants them to come together. -owever' he does not use force. *nstead' he encourages her gently. But she does not seem ready !verse +/".

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;erse +A This is a difficult verse. ?ifferent people give it different meanings. *t could be either the man or the woman who speaks this verse. *n the ancient world' foxes stole fruit from *vineyards. They are clever animals. (erhaps' in spring' young people tried to catch foxes. 4aybe it was a kind of game when the young people chased the foxes. o this game becomes a *symbol. The woman is like a flower but there is no $fruit% yet. They had to protect the fruit. ;erses +93+/ The first line of this verse is perhaps the most beautiful line in the ong. The verse reminds us of 5enesis 6267 F $for this reason a man will leave his father%. They should stay with each other if their love is true love. The *-ebrew for $begins% actually means $breathes%. o it means $come to life%. The word $turn% might also mean $to sit or lie down at a meal% !see + amuel +92++". Then she compares him to a *gaEelle again. *5aEelles do not lie down to eat. o the writer mixes his *symbols. *n verse 6' he said that she was like a flower. o' in verse +9' she says that he is like a *gaEelle by the flowers. But she did not want him to be there. *nstead' she told him to go back to the mountains. he was not yet ready for their love.

Chapter 3
The Woman
v1 At night' when * was on my bed' * looked for my man. -e is the man that my heart loves. * looked for him' but * did not find him> v2 * will get up now. * will go round the city. *n the streets and sBuares' * will search for the man that * love. o * looked for him but * could not find him. v3 The guards who go about the city found me. * asked them' $-ave you seen the man that * loveG% v4 As soon as * left the guards' * found my man. * found the man that * love. * held him' and * would not let him go. Then * took him to my mother%s house. *t was the room where * was born. v5 Women of &erusalem' make a promise to me. Think about the wild *gaEelles and *deer as you make this promise. ?o not think about love until the right time. ;erse + The woman is lonely at night. he wants the man whom she loves. *n )Eekiel 602+/' a $bed% means a $love bed%. There is nowhere else in the ong where we have this word. These few verses might be part of a dream' or a type of dream. -owever' the ong does not say this. ;erse 6 The woman wishes to see her man. o now she takes more action. he probably did not actually wander about the streets. he was going on a .ourney. But it was a .ourney in her mind. ;erse 0 This is the first time that we read about the guards. They appear suddenly. The guards also appear in ong A2/. *n this verse' they are silent. (erhaps the guards are a type of *symbol. The woman has not had sex. o the guards are $protecting% her. omeone might try to have sex with her. ;erse 7 The woman has great determination. he has tried hard to find her man. But now she finds him. he is glad. he takes him to her mother. -er mother can arrange her marriage. But perhaps' the $mother% and the $house% are *symbols. *f so' she probably did not really take her man to her mother. he is .ust saying that she wants to marry him.

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;erse A The woman makes another appeal to the young women of &erusalem. The woman is still a *virgin. he has thought much about this. But now she has come to a big decision. Their present situation is not satisfactory. he has decided to marry the man. o the right time for their love will be very soon.

The Thir" Song

The Woman
v omebody is coming from the desert. And men are coming with clouds of smoke. They come with *myrrh and *incense. They have a wonderful smell. v! =ook> *t is olomon%s carriage> ixty !9," soldiers guard it. They are the best soldiers in *srael. v# All of them are skilful with the sword. (eople have trained them to fight. Their swords are at their sides. They are ready for any danger during the night. v% 1ing olomon made the carriage for himself. The wood came from =ebanon. v1& -e made the poles from silver. And it has a gold base. A purple cloth covers the seat. The women of &erusalem made the beautiful inside of the carriage. They made it with grace. v11 Women of Hion' come out and see 1ing olomon. =ook at the crown that his mother put on him. This is the crown for his wedding. And he is so happy because of his wedding. ;erse 9 omeone is coming. There is a great procession. There are lovely smells. ;erse / The *-ebrew has $bed% instead of $carriage%. But it is probably not a bed. *t perhaps means a large chair where people could rest. 4en carried such chairs. #nly important people would use them. (erhaps olomon is a *symbol of an important man. The soldiers are guards. *n ancient times' the man would lead a procession to home of the brideIs family. Jsually the man%s friends would go with him. But olomon was the king. o' if the man was olomon' this was a royal wedding. And his best soldiers would guard him. ;erse @ The soldiers are part of the splendid scene. They need to keep the bride and her husband safe. We do not know what the $dangers% might be. Wild animals might attack them. #r enemies might attack them. They do not want any attacks on the king on his wedding day. ;erses :3+, There is another chair for a king in + 1ings +,2+@36,. *t is splendid in an eBual way. The wood from =ebanon was often *cedar. 4any people wanted it. )verything in this carriage or chair is expensive. 5ood cloth usually came from Tyre and idon. 4any people wanted the colour purple. (urple cloth was the most expensive cloth. The *-ebrew for the word $grace% is not clear. *t might mean $stones%. (eople have different opinions about it. (erhaps the woman is calling everything !chair and people" beautiful. This is because everything is wonderful. ;erse ++ The girls of &erusalem should see $1ing olomon%. But we do not learn anything about olomon himself. The $crown% may mean clothes for a wedding. #r it could be flowers on the husband%s head. Weddings were not private in ancient times. )veryone in the wider family came to them.

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Chapter 4
The $an
v1 4y *dear' you are so beautiful> #h' you are beautiful> <our eyes are behind your *veil. They are like *doves. <our hair is like a group of goats. They are coming down from the mountain called 5ilead. <our teeth are white like sheep whose wool is clean and neat. )ach sheep has its *twin. Kone of the young sheep is alone. <our lips are like a red ribbon. They are so lovely when you speak. <our cheeks are red behind your *veil. They are like a *pomegranate. <our neck is like a strong building. This building stands above the castle that ?avid built. <our neck is round and smooth. A thousand *shields hang on it. All these *shields belong to soldiers. <our breasts are like two young *gaEelles. A *gaEelle can have *twins. These *twins eat among the flowers. <our breasts are like these *twins. * will go to the mountain of *myrrh. * will go to the hill of *incense. * will go there until the day begins. * will go there until the shadows disappear. <ou are beautiful' my *dear> -ow perfect you are>

v2

v3

v4

v5

v!

;erse + This is probably the beginning of the wedding ceremony. (erhaps this is the reason that she is wearing a *veil. The word $goats% has the idea that the woman is strong. The hair of goats can wave in the wind. o the man is being kind to her. The *-ebrew for $coming down% has a special meaning. The goats are like a stream. We are not sure where the mountain called 5ilead is. ;erse 6 The woman has wonderful teeth. The $*twins% mean that she has all her teeth. There are none missing. The sheep have very good health. They are clean. This woman is perfect in all her details. ;erse 0 Women used to colour their lips. They made their lips look more red. The man also likes the sound of the woman%s voice ! ong 62+7". o her lips are lovely too. Ded cheeks show that she is healthy. The taste of *pomegranates is sweet. They are also round. (eople associate them with love in some countries. ;erse 7 The woman%s neck is round and smooth. The *-ebrew for $*shields% is not clear. *t could mean anything that an army might use !)Eekiel 6/2++". -owever' the $*shields% might be a *symbol for *.ewels. These would be on her neck. oldiers dress well for a procession. o the woman also is attractive.

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;erse A The *gaEelles are probably a *symbol. They are graceful animals that have much energy. There may also be connections with sex !also in ong 62/' :". There is a mixture of *symbols. *n ong A2+0' the woman refers to the man%s lips as *lotuses. And lotuses are flowers. (erhaps the woman is suggesting that the man should kiss her. ;erse 9 *4yrrh and *incense have beautiful smells. (eople associated these smells with love. The $mountain% and $hill% are probably *symbols of the woman%s breasts. (erhaps the bride put *incense between her breasts. This could help their love !see ong +2+08 029". ;erse / This verse completes this section. *t says everything that the man thinks. The woman is perfect.

The $an
v# Come with me from =ebanon' my bride. Come with me from =ebanon. Come down from the top of Amana mountain' from the top of enir' the top of -ermon. Come from the lions% cave. And from where *leopards live in the mountains. * want to love you with all of my heart' my sister. * want to love you' my bride. <ou gave me one look with your eyes' <ou showed me one stone of your *.ewels. <our love is a delight' my sister' my bride> <our love is so much better than wine> <our *perfume smells better than any *spice. <our lips are sweet. They are like honey' my bride. -oney and milk are under your tongue. <our clothes have the smell of =ebanon. 4y sister' my bride' you are like a garden. This is a garden that someone has locked. <ou are like a place where there is fresh water. *t is a private place. <ou are like a fountain that someone has closed. These plants grow in your garden2 *pomegranates with the best fruit bushes and flowers that have a beautiful smell v14 *perfume bushes and other flowers many *spices trees with *incense *myrrh and the best *spices. <ou are like a fountain in a garden. <ou are like a well of fresh water. This water comes down Buickly from the =ebanon mountains.

v%

v1&

v11

v12

v13

v15

The Woman
v1 Wake up' north wind> Come' south wind> Blow on my garden.

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Then its smell can spread everywhere. =et my lover come into his garden. Then he can taste its pleasant fruit.

Chapter 5
The $an
v1 * have come into my garden' my special young woman' my bride. * have gathered my *myrrh and *spice. * have eaten my honey. * have eaten where the *bees store honey. * have drunk my wine and milk.

Frien"s
Criends' eat and drink> ?rink until you are full of love> ;erse @ We have another picture. The woman is high on the mountains. he is difficult to reach. he is more than .ust a person. he is a *virgin. This makes her very special. This is the first time that the writer uses the word $bride%. The *-ebrew word for $bride% means $a woman who is complete%. *n other words' at her wedding' the bride becomes perfect for her husband. The woman will soon be $complete% because of her marriage !*saiah 96273A". The word $bride% appears six times in the ong !72@' :' +,' ++' +6 and A2+". (erhaps this passage describes the first night of a wedding. The wild animals are dangerous animals like the foxes in ong 62+A. (erhaps the woman is still in danger. But when she is married' her husband will protect her. ;erse : The man calls the woman his $sister%. he is not his real sister. -owever' she is part of his family !or she soon will be". -e called her his sister because they would soon live in the same home. $* want to love you with all of my heart% might also mean $* am excited%. The man now feels weak because of his great love for her. *t only needs $one look% to do this. ;erses +,3++ The man has compared their love with different things. But now these things feel stronger and stronger. -er $*perfume% makes him weak. The man uses more *symbols F milk and honey. These are liBuids. They are also pleasant things to drink and eat. o they describe their love in a better way. The $smell of =ebanon% probably refers to *cedars. ;erse +6 5ardens were important possessions in *srael. )cclesiastes 62739 describes a royal garden. There were *vineyards' fruit trees and pools of water. But someone has locked the woman%s garden. The woman only cares about the man. There is nobody else. he is like a fountain. But this fountain is only for her man. The good things in this garden are like the love that she offers. #nce nobody could en.oy her love. But' at the wedding' she invites her husband to en.oy her love. And everyone will be happy because of their marriage. ;erse +0 The *-ebrew is difficult to understand. The word $plants% might mean $roots%. *t may refer to plants that grow in her garden. There are many different plants. All these plants taste good. They all have a wonderful smell. *saiah +92@ is a similar verse. *t is as if the woman%s roots will $spread% into many places. *n other words' many people will benefit because of her love for her husband. The garden is more than a simple garden. The *-ebrew means that it is a very beautiful garden ;erse +7 The *-ebrew has a list of plants. 4any of them were expensive. 4ost people probably did not possess any of them. These plants were *symbols because they were rare and beautiful. ;erse +A This verse is similar to ong 72+6. Countains are beautiful. Wells and fountains have water that comes from a spring. They do not become dry. The woman will always love her husband. -er love will not be like a spring that becomes dry.

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;erse +9 *n ong 02A' the woman asks that her friends do not $wake% her love. But now the time is right. he must not stop herself any more. he is eager for love. The man should enter her garden. Then he can eat all the $fruit% that he wants. *n other words' he can en.oy everything that she offers him. They are now married. o now is the right time for them to have sex together. Chapter A ;erse + The woman is now no longer distant. he belongs to the man. -e has a share of her honey' *myrrh and *spices. This means that their love is now perfect. They have waited until after their wedding. Their experience together felt wonderful. *t was like a meal of the finest foods. Their friends were so happy because of their love for each other.

The Fourth Song

The Woman
v2 * slept but' in a dream' * awoke. =isten> 4y lover is knocking. $#pen to me' my special young woman' my *dear' my *dove' my perfect young woman. 4y head is wet with *dew. 4y hair is damp because of the night.% * have taken off my dress' * do not want to put it on again. * have washed my feet. * do not want to make them dirty. 4y lover put his hand through the opening. * was excited because he was near. * got up to open !the door" for my lover. *4yrrh was falling off my hands. =iBuid *myrrh was falling from my fingers. *t fell onto the handles of the lock. * opened for my lover. But my lover had left. -e had gone. * was so sad because he had gone. * looked for him but * could not find him. * called for him but he did not answer. The guards found me as they walked round the city. They hit me and they bruised me. There were guards on the wall. They took away my coat. 4ake a promise to me' women of &erusalem. *f you find my lover' Tell him that * am weak. * am weak because of love.

v3

v4 v5

v!

v#

;erse 6 The woman is probably not actually asleep. But these events are like a dream. The man in this ong tries to push a door. -e does not want any delay. -e wants to come into the woman%s room. ;erse 0 The woman in the ong hesitates. ;erse 7 The verse may have a *sexual meaning. ;erse A *4yrrh is expensive. The woman has a lot of it. But she seems to waste it because of her love. The $door% is probably a *symbol. The woman goes to the door to let her man in. The woman%s $fingers%' the $liBuid *myrrh% and the $lock% may have *sexual meanings.
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;erse 9 The woman has $opened% something. he has let the man come close to her. The next few lines are a surprise. The man has gone away from the woman> $5one% might mean $continued with his .ourney%. The woman does not want him to go. The verse is like ong 026. The woman goes to search for the man again. ;erse / The woman looks for her man at night. The town%s guards find her. They take away her coat. The word might mean a *veil !see *saiah 0260". $Took away% might mean that she has become naked. ;erse @ The man has left his woman. The woman thinks that he has forgotten her. he needs the comfort of her friends. he has felt many emotions. he is weak now. But her friends will help her to become strong. Deally' she wants more love. The woman is no longer a *virgin. o she is a different woman. -er experience meant that she had some pain. But she could deal with this. he realises that he has not left her permanently. he still thinks that he is special. o she wants her friends to help her.

The Women of (erusalem

v% Beautiful woman' how is your lover different from other menG *s your lover better than other loversG *s that why you ask us to make this promiseG

The Woman
v1& 4y lover is fair and red. -e is noticeable among ten thousand men. v11 -is head is like the purest gold. -is hair has curves. *t is black like a *raven. v12 -is eyes are like *doves. The *doves are by a stream. The white part of his eyes is like milk. *t is as if someone has set his eyes like *.ewels. v13 -is cheeks are like *spices in a garden. Their flowers give a *perfume. -is lips are like *lotuses. =iBuid *myrrh seems to fall from his lips. v14 -is arms have a good shape. They are like gold. *&ewels cover his arms. -is stomach is like smooth *ivory. -e has covered it with *.ewels. v15 -is legs are like *marble columns. omeone has set them on a gold base. -e stands tall. -e is like the finest *cedar tree in =ebanon. v1 <es' women of &erusalem' this is what my lover is like. -e has the sweetest mouth. )verything about him is lovely. ;erse : The *-ebrew is difficult to understand. The woman has loved the man so much. *t has been like a .ourney. -er friends want to be sure that he is the right man. o she will try to convince them.

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;erse +, ?avid had red skin !+ amuel +92+6". (eople thought that he was attractive. *n ancient times' people preferred darker skin. $Ten thousand% means $a great number%. ;erse ++ (eople notice this man in a crowd. The man%s face is beautiful. ?aniel describes KebuchadneEEar in a similar way !?aniel 6206". The man must be young. -e has no grey hair> ;erse +6 *t seems that the man has beautiful eyes. -e does not stare at her. *nstead' when he looks at her' he appreciates her. The milk is a *symbol. 4ilk is full of good things. The *-ebrew for $set his eyes like *.ewels% is difficult. *t might refer to the colour of the man%s eyes. ;erse +0 The *-ebrew is not clear in this verse. The flowers may be in large' high groups. o they are like round' high buildings. The woman is continuing to describe how special the man is. The man%s lips give much pleasure. The *lotus was a *symbol for life. ;erse +7 This verse could refer to many different *.ewels. (erhaps he only had one *.ewel in each hand. !The *-ebrew for $arms% in this verse is the same as $hands%." ;erse +A The woman likes every part of the man. )ven his legs are pretty. The higher part of his legs is pale. But his lower legs have a gold colour. There is a nice difference. The trees in =ebanon are both strong and beautiful. ;erse +9 The man%s kisses are a delight. This verse is similar to ong +26. The *-ebrew for $lover% might also be $friend% !see (salm 7A2+7".

Chapter
The Women of (erusalem
v1 Where has your lover gone' most beautiful among womenG Tell us which way your lover went. Then we can help you to look for him.

The Woman
v2 4y lover has gone down to his garden' to the places where *spices grow. -e will eat food from the garden. -e will gather flowers there. * belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me. *t is he who eats near the flowers.

v3

The Fifth Song

The $an
v4 <ou are beautiful' my special young woman. <ou are as beautiful as TirEah' as lovely as &erusalem. <ou are as wonderful as those great cities. Turn your eyes away from me. They excite me too much> <our hair is long. *t is like a *flock of goats that are coming down from 5ilead. <our teeth are like a *flock of sheep. Their wool is clean. )ach sheep has its *twin. Kone of the sheep is alone.
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v5

v! v#

v%

<our cheeks are red behind your *veil. They are like the halves of a *pomegranate. There might be 9, Bueens. There might be @, women who live in the palace. There might be too many *virgins to count. But my *dove' my perfect young woman' is special. he is the only daughter of her mother. -er mother prefers her to any other person. The young women see her and they praise her. There are Bueens and women in the palace. They praise her too.

;erse + The friends seem to ask a foolish Buestion. *f the woman knew the answer' she would not need help to find him. The woman has not really lost her husband. The woman%s friends realise that the man is very special. ;erses 630 #f course the woman can find the man> he knows exactly where he is. The $garden% is probably a *symbol for the woman%s body' or for their love. The man is like a gardener. o he looks after his garden !the woman". And the man is also like an animal that eats among the flowers. The woman was a *virgin. But now she is his wife. ;erse 7 The man returns from his $absence%. -e reminds her that she is beautiful. &oshua defeated the people of TirEah !&oshua +6267". &eroboam made it his capital !+ 1ings +72+63+/". o it was an important city. (erhaps it had pleasant gardens. There was a good supply of water. A psalm describes &erusalem as having $perfect beauty% !(salm A,26". ;erses A3/ The man is bold. -e is staring at her. *t is difficult for the man to stay calm. ?avid was bold in the same way !(salm +0@20". ;erses AbF/ are almost the same as ong 72+30. Although he is now her husband' he still desires her. he expects much from him. ;erse @ The woman is better than all other women. The actual large numbers do not mean very much. They are .ust a *symbol. *n (roverbs' we often read that $there are three things...%. The actual number is not important. ome people say that these women belong to olomon. But the reference to Bueens may be more general than this. ;erse : *t is always good to be a favourite child. The man mentions the Bueens and $women% again. (eople cannot praise his new wife enough. he is more special than any other woman.

The Women of (erusalem

v1& Who is this womanG he seems to shine like the dawn. he seems as beautiful as the moon. he seems as bright as the sun. he is as wonderful as the stars.

The Woman
v11 * went down to the group of nut trees. * went to see the young plants in the valley. * went to see if the *vines were beginning to flower. #r the *pomegranates were beginning to flower. v12 Then my hope came true. * was next to my prince. We were in a *chariot. The *chariots belonged to the king. * was with people that * knew.

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This happened before * realised it.

The Women of (erusalem

v13 Come back' come back' * hulamite. Come back' come back. Then we can stare at you.

The $an
?o not stare at the * hulamite> ?o not stare as she dances the 4ahanaim dance> ;erse +, The woman is already like a city ! ong 927". Kow she is also like the stars. The woman is very beautiful. The moon and the sun have different types of light. But their light is lovely. The *-ebrew may mean that she is rising from a background. ;erses ++3+6 The man may be speaking in this verse. There may be different speakers for verses ++ and +6. The meaning depends on the speaker!s". *f the woman speaks both verses' it might mean this2 $* meant to go to the group of nut trees. * am among the royal *chariots. But * do not know what * am doing there.% *f the man speaks both verses' it might mean2 $* wanted to check the group of nut trees and *vineyards. * wanted to see if they had fruit. *nstead' * find myself among these *chariots.% The fruit might refer to the woman. ;erse +6 is the most difficult verse to translate in the ong. *t is not certain what it means. ;erse +0 * hulamite F This is the only place in the #ld *Testament where we have this word. (erhaps it is the name of a place. The women want the bride to remain with them. Then they can en.oy her beauty. But the bride%s new husband speaks for her. The time when they stare is now over. he was a beautiful bride. But the wedding is over. 4ahanaim F the *-ebrew might mean $dance of the two groups%. -owever' we cannot be sure about this.

Chapter !
The $an
v1 <ou have *sandals on your feet. <our feet are as beautiful as the feet of a prince%s daughter> The curves of your legs are like *.ewels. They are like the work of a skilled worker. <our stomach is like a round cup. *t shall never have a lack of wine. <our *waist is a heap of wheat. Clowers are in a circle round it. <our breasts are like two young *gaEelles. A *gaEelle can have *twins. <our breasts are like these young*twins. <our neck is like a high' round building. omeone has made the building with *ivory. <our eyes are like the pools at -eshbon. These pools are next to the gate of Bathrabbim. <our nose is like a high round building. This building is in =ebanon. *t points towards ?amascus. <our head is better than a crown. *t is like the mountain called Carmel. <our hair is like silk.

v2

v3

v4

v5

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v!

v#

*t is long and smooth. Although * am the king' * am excited to see it. <ou are so beautiful> And you are so pleasant> 4y special young woman' you are a delightful young woman> <ou are tall' as tall as a *palm tree. And your breasts are like its plentiful fruit. * said' $* will climb the *palm tree. * will hold its fruit.% * would like your breasts to be like groups of *grapes. * would like your breath to smell like apples.

;erse + The woman wears *sandals. (eople thought that these were attractive. The $legs% mean the top part of her legs. They are round in a nice way. ;erse 6 The word $stomach% could have another meaning. *t may refer to a special part of a woman. The $heap of wheat% seems strange. But perhaps the woman%s *waist has the flowers round it !not the $heap of wheat%". The *-ebrew for $circle% is not certain. *t might mean $surround%. ;erse 0 This verse is similar to ong 72A !see the note there". ;erse 7 This building reminds us about another building ! ong 727". That one belonged to ?avid. -er neck is strong. But it is also beautiful. -eshbon was near the ?ead ea. There were pools of water there. We do not know anything about Bathrabbim. The woman%s nose is also like a building> (erhaps it was straight. The *-ebrew may mean that it was white too. ?amascus was the capital of yria. ;erse A Carmel is an area of high land by the 4editerranean. There is a wood at the top. *t is a beautiful place. The woman%s hair hangs in a loose way. The *-ebrew may mean that it is purple or black. The king will notice it. -er hair is like water F it is smooth. ;erse 9 The *-ebrew may mean that the woman is soft and beautiful. *bn )Era' a wise *-ebrew writer' said this about this verse2 $=ove is very pleasant. There is nothing like it in the world. *t is a delight for the spirit.% ;erse / The *palm tree was a very useful tree. (eople made many things from it. *t had lovely white flowers. *t had sweet fruit too. o it was a good thing to compare the woman to. ;erse @ The man had determination. *t was difficult to climb a *palm tree. But the woman was worth it. $=et your wife%s breasts satisfy you at all times% !(roverbs A2+:". -owever' the picture changes to a *vine. *nstead' he now describes the *grapes of a *vine. *n verse :' the woman will describe their love as wine.

The Woman
v% * would like your mouth to smell like the best wine. * hope that the wine goes straight to my lover. * hope that it flows gently over his lips and teeth. v1& * belong to my lover' and he desires me. v11 Come' my lover' let us go to the country. =et us spend the night in the villages. v12 =et us go early to the *vineyards. We will see if the *vine has begun to flower. (erhaps the *vines have flowers. We will see if the *pomegranate trees have begun to flower. There * will give you my love.

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v13 <ou can smell the *mandrakes. And you can smell all the special fruits that are near us. <es' * have saved many pleasant things for you' my lover. There are both old and new things. ;erse : Wine is a *symbol for love. (robably the woman was really thinking about a kiss' as in ong +26. The woman feels several different things. he en.oys the taste' touch and smell of her lover. -is love is gentle. -e is not rough. The *-ebrew for $teeth% might mean $people who sleep%. ;erse +, The *-ebrew word for $desire% is unusual. The #ld *Testament uses it three times. *t is also in 5enesis 02+98 72/. *n 5enesis' this $desire% is not healthy. The man will $rule% her. -owever' in this ong' the woman%s $desire% is healthy. ;erse ++ =overs want to be alone. o the country is a good place to go. $Country% might mean $fields%. They can be private in the fields. $;illages% might mean $henna%. This is a type of wild bush. *t has white flowers that have a nice smell. This is the first proper invitation by the woman. ;erse +6 ong 92++ has two similar lines. The woman is expecting something. *n ong 92++' the woman was probably alone. But now the woman invites the man to go with her. They can learn more about their love. The woman is willing to make a promise to the man. There is also the *symbol of the fruit. *t may suggest sex. he has saved many pleasant things for him !verse +0". ;erse +0 *4andrakes appear in 5enesis 0,2+73+9. They are plants with roots that can look like people. *4andrakes have a nice smell. Women used *mandrakes to tempt their husbands. And women thought that *mandrakes would help them to have babies.

Chapter #
The Woman
v1 * wish that you were like my brother. 4y mother fed him at her breasts. Then' if * found you outside' * would kiss you. Kobody would say that it was wrong> * would lead you to my mother%s house. he is the person who taught me. * would give you wine with *spices. And you could drink wine from my *pomegranates. <our left arm is under my head. And your right arm holds me. Women of &erusalem' make a promise to me. ?o not think about love until the right time.

v2

v3 v4

The Si)th Song

The Women of (erusalem
v5 omebody is coming from the desert. he is leaning on her lover.

The Woman
* woke you under the apple tree. *t was the place where you were born. *t was the time when your mother struggled at your birth. 1eep me near you like a *seal. 1eep the *seal on your arm because love is as strong as death.
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v!

trong love is as strong as death. *t Buickly becomes like a flame. And that flame becomes a great fire> *f love were like fire' then even plentiful water could not put it out. A river can be powerful. But nothing can stop our love. A man might offer all his wealth for love. But someone else would not want this offer.

;erse + =overs were not able to kiss in public. (eople thought that it was wrong. -owever' the woman wants to be more public. he wants to show her love to everyone. o she wishes that her new husband was her brother. 4embers of a family could kiss each other !5enesis 6:2+,' ++". ;erse 6 The *-ebrew for $taught% is not clear. *t might refer to the lover. Then it would mean $you will teach%. The man would $teach% his new wife how to love. #r it might refer to the mother. Then it would mean $she taught%. The teacher is the mother. -er mother has taught her about sex. o the woman can go back to her mother. The mother can see if the woman has learnt her lessons. ;erse 037 These verses repeat ong 6293/. ;erse 7 repeats ong 02A. -owever' here she does not mention the *gaEelles or the *deer. The woman is confident about the love of the man. This is the right time for their love. he does not want anyone to interrupt them. ;erse A The first line repeats ong 029. But the next line is very different. *n ong 029' the woman looked like a Bueen. Kow she has security. he receives this from her new husband. The word $woke% means more than this. *t means the woman wants to bring more life to her husband. Apple trees can produce much fruit. ome of it is red. o perhaps the apple tree is a *symbol of youth. *t may also be a *symbol for sex and birth of more children. *t is the woman who wants to start this. he wants to be the mother of her husband%s children. ;erse 9 * eals are important in the Bible. They provided security for people. Dulers made new laws. (eople needed to know that the laws were genuine. o they had *seals. The woman%s *seal was a *symbol. *t probably did not actually exist. The woman' however' wanted to be sure about the man. he wanted really to know that he loved her. he did not want anyone else to love him. Their love should be $strong%. The woman compares their love with death. But their love is much stronger than death. Together' they will do 5od%s work. Together' they will defeat evil things. ;erse / Their love is like a strong fire. Water cannot put out such a fire. Their love is so strong that a river cannot take it away. Also' love has a greater value than wealth. Kobody can buy love. $*t is better to get wisdom than gold% !(roverbs +92+9". The woman expected her husband to be loyal to her.

Frien"s
v# We have a young sister. And her breasts are still small. A man might ask her to marry him. But we will not know what to do. *f she becomes like a wall' we shall build her a silver *parapet. *f she becomes like a door' we shall put *cedar boards round her.

v%

The Woman
v1& * am like a wall. And my breasts have grown strong. They are like the buildings that defend a wall. * have made my husband content. v11 olomon had a *vineyard in Baal -amon.
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4en rented his *vineyard from him. And each man brought fruit to him. This fruit was worth +,,, pieces of silver. v12 But my own *vineyard is mine to give. The +,,, pieces of silver are for you' olomon. And 6,, pieces of silver can pay the workers who look after the *vineyard.

The $an
v13 =et me hear your voice from the garden' my *dear. 4y friends are waiting to hear you speak.

The Woman
v14 Come with me' my lover. Be like a *gaEelle or a young *deer on the mountains of *spice. ;erse @ The speakers might be the brothers. #lder children needed to look after their younger sisters. This young girl was not yet a woman. o they did not want her to have any trouble. )Eekiel +92/3@ has a similar idea. ;erse : This verse is difficult to understand. The wall is a *symbol. he might have a good $defence% !against men". Then she could have a reward. -er brothers could give her pretty things to wear. The door' too' is a *symbol. *t might be too easy for men to $enter% her. o the brothers would need to build a wall to protect her. #ther people have a different opinion about these verses. (erhaps the brothers want to increase the value of the woman. They want to make her more pretty. o they give her silver and *cedar to wear. The brothers wanted the girl to have a good life. And they wanted her to marry a good husband. o they would work to improve her. They would teach her in order to improve her character. Then she would be more useful for her husband. And they would show her how to become more beautiful. *Cedar boards make a door more beautiful. And the door would also be more useful' because it would last longer. A *parapet protects a wall' so the wall will also last longer. *f the *parapet were silver' it would be very beautiful. ;erse +, The woman herself takes the wall as a *symbol. he is now a mature woman. -er breasts are large. he will be a good mother. $Content% can mean $complete in every way%. ;erse ++ This verse reminds us of The ong of the *;ineyard !*saiah A2+3/". That is also a love song. The *vineyard was also a place where people could find pleasant fruit. (erhaps the $*vineyard% or $fruit% refers to olomon%s many women. Baal -amon is an unknown place. olomon might have had a large *vineyard there. *f so' it was a successful business. *ts workers worked hard. But they did not work because of love. The couple in the ong would also work hard to bring up their children. But the couple were working because of their great love. ;erse +6 The woman contrasts her own *vineyard with olomon%s *vineyard. *n ong +29' the woman complains about her former situation. he could not look after her *vineyard. -er brothers had authority over her. But now the situation has changed. he can give her *vineyard to anyone that she wants. o she gives her profits to her husband whom she loves. But she is also kind to her employees. ;erse +0 )veryone wants to listen to the woman. )veryone wants to admire her. he is now the wife of the man. -e is present. o he wants her to reply. ;erse +7 The woman only replies to the man. he says that they should leave the crowds. *nstead' they should be alone on the mountains. =ove is powerful. The two lovers have had to wait. But now the wait is over.

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Wor" *ist
bee L a type of insect. 'e"ar L a type of tall tree' or wood from the cedar tree. 'hariot L a vehicle with two wheels. A horse pulls it. "ear L someone that you love in a special way. "eer L an animal. "e+ L small amounts of water that appear on the ground8 this usually happens during the night. "ove L a bird. fig L a fruit. flo', L a group of sheep' goats or other animals. fragran'e L a smell' usually good. ga-elle L an animal. grape L a small soft fruit. .ebre+ L the language that ong of ongs is written in. in'ense L a *spice that produces a sweet smell. ivory L part of an elephant !called the $tusk%". *t is hard and white. (eople use ivory to make beautiful things. /e+el L a precious stone. leopar" L a dangerous animal. lotus L a flower. man"ra,es L a plant with white flowers8 part of the plant can look like a person. marble L a very hard material8 it is similar to stone8 it can have colours. mare L a female horse. myrrh L something that comes from trees8 people use it in *incense. ne',la'e L precious stones that people wear round their neck. palm L a tree. parapet L a low wall at the edge of a roof. perfume L a sweet smell. pomegranate L a fruit which is the siEe of an orange. raven L a black bird. san"al L a shoe that is open at the top. seal L a material' usually with a design. (eople use it to make an envelope' or something similar' safe. se)ual L about sex. shepher" L someone who looks after sheep. shiel" L a piece of metal that a soldier uses to protect himself. Shulamite L the woman may be called the hulamite because she comes from a town called hulem. spi'e L a special plant that has a strong smell and taste. (eople use spices to make *incense and *perfume. symbol L something that represents something else8 a sign of an ob.ect8 something that actually means something else. testament L collection of books in the Bible. The #ld Testament is the first part of the Bible' which the writers wrote before &esus came. thorns L plants with sharp points that can hurt. t+in L one of a pair 3 both come from one mother in one birth. veil L a piece of cloth8 a woman wears it over her face8 it is possible to see through it.
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vine L a plant with fruit8 grapes !a small' soft fruit" grow on them. vineyar" L a place where *vines grow. virgin L a woman who has never had sex. +aist L the middle part of the body.

0oo, *ist
?uane 5arrett M (aul D. -ouse L ong of ongs N =amentations L Word Biblical Commentary 5. =loyd Carr L The ong of olomonL Tyndale N *;( D. 4urphy M ). -uwiler L (roverbs' )cclesiastes' ong of ongs L Kew *nternational Biblical Commentary Tom 5ledhill L The 4essage of the ong of ongs L B T N *;(
1997-2006, Wycliffe Associates (UK) This publicatio is !"itte i #asy# $lish %e&el ' (2(00 !o")s)* +eb"ua"y 2006 ,isit ou" !ebsite- !!!*easye $lish*i fo

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