Song of Solomon 3

1 On my bed, in the nights, I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

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

2 I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broadways Will I seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

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.

3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: — Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?

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

4 — Scarcely had I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.

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.

5 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he please.

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.

6 Who is this, [she] that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant? ...

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?

7 Behold his couch, Solomon's own: Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty of Israel.

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

8 They all hold the sword, Experts in war; Each hath his sword upon his thigh Because of alarm in the nights.

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

9 King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.

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

10 Its pillars he made of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple; The midst thereof was paved [with] love By the daughters of Jerusalem.

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.

11 Go forth, daughters of Zion, And behold king Solomon With the crown wherewith his mother crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.

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.