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!

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

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 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.

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 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!

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

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

Look, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty warriors surround it, sixty soldiers of Israel.

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

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

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

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 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!

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.