The Torment of Separation

¹“I have come into my garden, my sister, my [promised] bride;

I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam and spice [from your sweet words].

I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;

I have drunk my wine with my milk.

Eat, friends;

Drink and drink deeply, O lovers.” [John 16:33]

²¶“I was asleep, but my heart was awake.

A voice [in my dream]! My beloved was knocking:

‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,

My dove, my perfect one!

For my head is drenched with the [heavy night] dew;

My hair [is covered] with the dampness of the night.’ [Job 11:13-15]

³“I had taken off my dress,

How can I put it on again?

I had washed my feet,

How could I get them dirty again? [Is 32:9; Heb 3:15]

⁴“My beloved extended his hand through the opening [of the door],

And my feelings were aroused for him.

⁵“I arose to open for my beloved;

And my hands dripped with myrrh,

And my fingers with liquid [sweet-scented] myrrh,

On the handles of the bolt.

⁶“I opened for my beloved,

But my beloved had turned away and was gone.

My heart went out to him when he spoke.

I searched for him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he did not answer me.

⁷“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me.

They struck me, they wounded me;

The guardsmen of the walls took my shawl from me.

⁸“I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,

If you find my beloved,

As to what you tell him—

[Say that] I am sick from love [sick from being without him].” [Ps 63:1]

⁹¶“What is your beloved more than another beloved,

O most beautiful among women?

What is your beloved more than another beloved,

That you should so command us to take an oath?” [John 10:26]

Admiration by the Bride

¹⁰¶“My beloved is exquisitely handsome and ruddy,

Outstanding among ten thousand. [Ps 45:2; John 1:14]

¹¹“His head is like [precious] gold, pure gold;

His hair is [curly] like clusters of dates

And black as a raven.

¹²“His eyes are like doves

Beside streams of water,

Bathed in milk

And reposed in their setting.

¹³“His cheeks are like a bed of balsam,

Banks of sweet, fragrant herbs.

His lips are lilies

Dripping sweet-scented myrrh.

¹⁴“His hands are rods of gold

Set with beryl;

His abdomen is a figure of carved ivory

Inlaid with sapphires.

¹⁵“His legs are [strong and steady] pillars of alabaster

Set upon pedestals of fine gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,

Stately and choice as the cedars.

¹⁶“His mouth is full of sweetness;

Yes, he is altogether lovely and desirable.

This is my beloved and this is my friend,

O daughters of Jerusalem.” [Ps 92:15; Col 1:15]