Song of Solomon 3

1 On my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him.

On my bed by night, I sought him whom my soul has loved; I sought him, and I did not find him!

2 I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him.

Now let me rise, and go around the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul has loved! I sought him, and I did not find him.

3 I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?”

The watchmen have found me (Who are going around the city), “Have you seen him whom my soul has loved?”

4 I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

But I passed on a little from them, Until I found him whom my soul has loved! I seized him, and did not let him go, Until I brought him to the house of my mother—And the chamber of her that conceived me.

5 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor wake the love until she pleases!

6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

Who [is] this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

7 Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.

Behold, his couch, that [is] of Solomon, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel,

8 All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.

All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

9 King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon.

A palanquin King Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,

10 He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [with] love, By the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother bestowed on the day of his wedding— the day of his heart’s rejoicing.

Go forth, and look, you daughters of Zion, On King Solomon, with the crown, With which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the joy of his heart!