Song of Solomon 3

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

On my couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and I found him not!

2 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.

— Pray, let me rise, and go round the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul hath loved! — I sought him, and I found him not.

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

The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), 'Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'

4 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.

But a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother — And the chamber of her that conceived me.

5 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].—

I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!

6 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?

Who [is] this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

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

Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel,

8 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.

All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

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

A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,

10 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.

Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [with] love, By the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 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.

Go forth, and look, ye daughters of Zion, On king Solomon, with the crown, With which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the joy of his heart!