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.

At night on my bed I was longing for him whom my soul loves; I looked for him, but I could 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 said to myself, “I will get up and go through the city, through the streets and squares; I will search for him whom my soul loves.” I searched for him, but I did not find him.

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

The watchmen found me as they were making their rounds in the city. I asked them, “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

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.

It was only a little while after I had passed them that I found him whom my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house, into the bedroom of the one who had 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.

I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the fields, that you will not awaken or arouse love until she pleases.

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? ...

What is that coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders sold by merchants?

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

Look, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty warriors surround it, sixty soldiers 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 of them are skilled with a sword and are experienced in warfare. Every man has his sword at his side, armed against the terrors of the night.

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

King Solomon made himself a sedan chair of the wood from 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.

Its posts were made of silver; the back was made of gold, and the seat of purple cloth. Its interior was decorated 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.

Go out, daughters of Zion, and gaze on King Solomon, bearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the day of the joy of his heart.