Song of Solomon 1:8

Love for others

⁶ 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?

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.

⁹ I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

¹⁰ Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
KJV: 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.
WEB: If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: If thou know not, thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' booths.
BLB: If you do not know [it] for yourself, O fairest among the women, go forth yourself in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the tents of the shepherds.

ÅB: Vet du det ikke, du fagreste blant kvinner, så gå ut i sauenes spor og vokt dine kje ved hyrdenes hytter!
OTB: Hvis du er usikker, Du vakreste blant kvinner, Følg sporene etter flokken Og beit dine unge geiter Nær teltene til gjeterne.
B1930: Vet du det ikke, du fagreste blandt kvinner, så gå ut i fårenes spor og vokt dine kje ved hyrdenes hytter!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Song of Solomon 6:1
Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
Read in context
Song of Solomon 5:9
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
Read in context
James 2:21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Read in context
James 5:10
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Read in context
Hebrews 11:4–40
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Read in context
John 21:15
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Read in context
Proverbs 8:34
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Read in context
Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Read in context