Song of Solomon 3

1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves: 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 loves: 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: to whom I said, Saw you him whom my soul loves?

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

4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but 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, 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 charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that you stir not up, nor awake my love, till he 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 comes 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 his bed, which is Solomon’s; three score valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

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

8 They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear 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 chariot 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 bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middle thereof being paved with love, for 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 you daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown with which his mother 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.