Song of Solomon 1:6

Identity and self-worth Shame

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.

⁵ I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

⁷ Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

⁸ If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
KJV: Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
WEB: Don’t stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept my own vineyard.
ASV: Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, Because the sun hath scorched me. My mother`s sons were incensed against me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; [But] mine own vineyard have I not kept.
DARBY: Look not upon me, because I am black; Because the sun hath looked upon me. My mother's children were angry with me: They made me keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.
BLB: Do not look at me because I [am] black, [for] the sun has gazed upon me. The sons of my mother were hot with me; they set me keeping the vineyards; my own vineyard I have not kept.

ÅB: Se ikke på meg, fordi jeg er så sort, fordi solen har brent meg! Min mors sønner ble vrede på meg, de satte meg til å vokte vingårdene; min egen vingård har jeg ikke voktet.
OTB: Ikke se på meg fordi jeg er mørk, For solen har brunet meg. Min mors sønner var sinte på meg; De gjorde meg til vokter av vingårdene, Men jeg har ikke stelt min egen vingård.
B1930: Se ikke på mig, fordi jeg er så sort, fordi solen har brent mig! Min mors sønner blev vrede på mig, de satte mig til å vokte vingårdene; min egen vingård har jeg ikke voktet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Song of Solomon 8:11–12
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.
Read in context
Luke 12:51–53
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Read in context
Mark 4:6
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Read in context
Jeremiah 12:6
For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
Read in context
Psalms 69:8
I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.
Read in context
Job 30:30
My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Read in context
Matthew 10:35–36
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Read in context
Lamentations 4:8
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
Read in context