Song of Solomon 3

1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not.

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.

2 'I will rise now, and go about the city, in the streets and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth.' I sought him, but I found him not.

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.

3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: 'Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?'

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

4 Scarce 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.

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.

5 'I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor stir up love, until it please.'

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

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

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?

7 Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; threescore mighty men are about it, of the mighty men of Israel.

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

8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war; every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of dread in the night.

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.

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

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

10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the top thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, the inside thereof being inlaid with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.

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,

11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and gaze upon king Solomon, even upon the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

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.