Song of Solomon 3

1 On my bed by night, I sought him whom my soul has loved; I sought him, and I did not find him!

Bride: On my bed, throughout the night, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him.

2 Now let me rise, and go around the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul has loved! I sought him, and I did not find him.

I will rise up, and I will circle through the city. Through the side streets and thoroughfares, I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him.

3 The watchmen have found me (Who are going around the city), “Have you seen him whom my soul has loved?”

The watchers who guard the city found me: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

4 But I passed on a little from them, Until I found him whom my soul has loved! I seized him, and did not let him go, Until I brought him to the house of my mother—And the chamber of her that conceived me.

When I had passed by them a little, I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not release him, until I would bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who bore me.

5 I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor wake the love until she pleases!

Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, until she wills.

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

Chorus to Groom: Who is she, who ascends through the desert, like a staff of smoke from the aromatics of myrrh, and frankincense, and every powder of the perfumer?

7 Behold, his couch, that [is] of Solomon, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel,

Chorus to Bride: Lo, sixty strong ones, out of all the strongest in Israel, stand watch at the bed of Solomon,

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

all holding swords and well-trained in warfare, each one’s weapon upon his thigh, because of fears in the night.

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

Bride to Chorus: King Solomon made himself a portable throne from the wood of Lebanon.

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

He made its columns of silver, the reclining place of gold, the ascent of purple; the middle he covered well, out of charity for the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go forth, and look, you 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!

O daughters of Zion, go forth and see king Solomon with the diadem with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his espousal, on the day of the rejoicing of his heart.