Song of Solomon 3

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

[[M.]] Upon my bed, in the night, I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but found him not.

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.

I will arise now [[said I]], and go about the city; In the streets and the broad ways will I seek him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but found him not.

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

The watchmen who go about the city found me; “Have you seen [[said I]] him whom my soul loveth?”

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.

I had but just passed them, When I found him whom my soul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go, Till I had brought him into my mother's house, Into the apartment of her that bore 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.

[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem! By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till she please.

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 that cometh up from the wilderness, Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the powders of the merchant?

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

Behold, the carriage of Solomon! Threescore valiant men are around it, Of the valiant men 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.

They all wear swords, Being skilled in war. Every one hath his sword girt upon his thigh, On account of danger in the night.

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

King Solomon made for himself a carriage 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.

The pillars thereof he made of silver, The railing of gold, The seat of purple, Its interior curiously wrought by a lovely one of 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, O ye daughters of Zion! And behold King Solomon In the crown with which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, In the day of the gladness of his heart.