¹One night when I was lying in bed, I longed for the one I love. I longed for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

²So I said to myself, “I will get up now and go through the city, looking in its streets and squares for the one I love.” I looked for him but I didn't find him.[#3:2. “So I told myself”: implied.]

³The watchmen found me as they went through the city. “Have you seen the one I love?” I asked them.

⁴Only a little farther on after I'd passed them I found my love! I held him close and would not let him go until I'd brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me.[#3:4. “To the room of the one who conceived me”: or, “into the room of my conceiving,” which may be a euphemism for wishing to have a child.]

⁵Women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or the wild deer that you won't disturb our love until the right time.

⁶Who is this coming in from the wilderness like a plume of smoke, like a burning sacrifice scented with myrrh and frankincense, with all kinds of imported perfumed powders?[#3:6. The dust thrown up by travelers in a dry wilderness would be the first sign of their approach. However, the emphasis of this verse is certainly on the accompanying scent.; #3:6. Some see this speech of the women of Jerusalem as continuing through the next verses.]

⁷Look, it's Solomon's sedan chair, accompanied by sixty of Israel's best warriors.[#3:7. Literally, “bed” or “couch.” A sedan chair was a portable chair used by royalty, carried on poles. It certainly was not a wheeled carriage, as some translations suggest.]

⁸All of them are expert swordsmen who have battle experience. They each carry a sword strapped to the thigh, ready for any night-time attacks.

⁹(Solomon's sedan chair was made for him with wood from Lebanon.[#3:9. “Sedan chair”: a different word is used but the meaning is the same.]

¹⁰Its posts were covered in silver, and the back was covered in gold. The seat cushion was purple. The interior was lovingly decorated.)[#3:10. The meaning of the last part of this verse is unclear. Possibly “The interior was inlaid with ivory.”]

Women of Jerusalem,

¹¹come out! Look, women of Zion! See King Solomon wearing the crown that his mother placed on his head on his wedding day, his happiest day.