Song of Solomon 3

1 One night when I was lying in bed, I longed for the one I love. I longed for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

On my couch during the nights I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2 So I said to myself, “I will get up now and go through the city, looking in its streets and squares for the one I love.” I looked for him but I didn't find him.

Oh, I must rise now, and go about in the city in the streets, and in the open places; I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3 The watchmen found me as they went through the city. “Have you seen the one I love?” I asked them.

Then found me the watchmen that walked about the city. “Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?”

4 Only a little farther on after I'd passed them I found my love! I held him close and would not let him go until I'd brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me.

Scarcely had I passed away from them, when I found him whom my soul loveth: I laid fast hold of him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that had born me.

5 Women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or the wild deer that you won't disturb our love until the right time.

I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor excite my love, till it please [to come of itself].—

6 Who is this coming in from the wilderness like a plume of smoke, like a burning sacrifice scented with myrrh and frankincense, with all kinds of imported perfumed powders?

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spicy powders of the merchant?

7 Look, it's Solomon's sedan chair, accompanied by sixty of Israel's best warriors.

Behold, it is the bed, which is Solomon's, sixty valiant men are round about it, of the valiant ones of Israel.

8 All of them are expert swordsmen who have battle experience. They each carry a sword strapped to the thigh, ready for any night-time attacks.

All of them are girded with the sword, are expert in war; every one hath his sword upon his thigh, because of the terror in the nights.

9 (Solomon's sedan chair was made for him with wood from Lebanon.

A palanquin did king Solomon make for himself out of the wood of Lebanon.

10 Its posts were covered in silver, and the back was covered in gold. The seat cushion was purple. The interior was lovingly decorated.) Women of Jerusalem,

The pillars thereof he made of silver, its coverlid of gold, its seat of purple: its inner part is arranged lovely, by the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 come out! Look, women of Zion! See King Solomon wearing the crown that his mother placed on his head on his wedding day, his happiest day.

Go forth, and look, O ye daughters of Zion, on king Solomon, with the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him on the day of his espousals, and on the day of the joy in his heart.