1“On my bed night after night I sought him
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.
2‘I must arise now and go around in the city;[#3:2 Or Let me arise; #3:2 Or Let me go about]
In the streets and in the public squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but did not find him.
3“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’
4“Hardly had I left them[#3:4 Lit passed]
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the room of her who conceived me.”
5¶“Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
That you will not disturb or awaken my love
Until she pleases.”
6¶“What is this coming up from the wilderness[#3:6 Lit Who]
Like columns of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all the scented powders of the merchant?
7“Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon;[#3:7 I.e., an elegant couch designed to be carried with poles by servants]
Sixty warriors around it,
Of the warriors of Israel.
8“All of them are wielders of the sword,
Expert in war;
Each man has his sword at his side,
Guarding against the terrors of the night.
9“King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair[#3:9 I.e., an elegant throne with poles, carried by servants]
From the timber of Lebanon.
10“He made its posts of silver,
Its back of gold
And its seat of purple fabric,
With its interior lovingly inlaid
By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11“Go out, you daughters of Zion,
And look at King Solomon with the crown
With which his mother has crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
And on the day of the joy of his heart.”