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.

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 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.

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

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 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.

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 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 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 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?

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

Look, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty warriors surround it, sixty soldiers 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 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 (Solomon's sedan chair was made for him with wood from Lebanon.

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

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 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 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.