Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals ¹  used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures ²  used to feed themselves from it.

Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. ¹  From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance. ² 

ס (Samek) All who passed by on the road clapped their hands to mock you. ¹  They sneered and shook their heads at Daughter Jerusalem. “Ha! Is this the city they called ²  ‘The perfection of beauty, ³  the source of joy of the whole earth!’?” ⁴ 

I made you plentiful like sprouts in a field; you grew tall and came of age so that you could wear jewelry. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, but you were still naked and bare.

I also swore ¹  to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them to the land I had given them – a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.

I will make your pinnacles out of gems, ¹  your gates out of beryl, ²  and your outer wall ³  out of beautiful ⁴  stones.

You will be a majestic crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal turban in the hand of your God.

Many foreign rulers ¹  will ruin the land where I planted my people. ²  They will trample all over my chosen land. ³  They will turn my beautiful land into a desolate wasteland.

They traded with you choice garments, purple clothes and embroidered work, and multicolored carpets, bound and reinforced with cords; these were among your merchandise.

Then I took my staff “Pleasantness” and cut it in two to annul my covenant that I had made with all the people.

What ¹  did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy ²  clothes? ³  Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury ⁴  are in kings’ courts! ⁵ 

And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.

You must make holy garments ¹  for your brother Aaron, for glory and for beauty. ² 

By his breath ¹  the skies became fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. ² 

He has cut out channels ¹  through the rocks; his eyes have spotted ²  every precious thing.

¹ “The wings of the ostrich ²  flap with joy, ³  but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork? ⁴ 

Majestic splendor emanates from him; ¹  his sanctuary is firmly established and beautiful. ² 

Her ways are very pleasant, ¹  and all her paths are peaceful.

There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but ¹  words of knowledge ²  are like ³  a precious jewel.

I increased my possessions: ¹  I built houses for myself; ²  I planted vineyards for myself.