Song of Solomon 3

1 By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I did not find him.

On my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him.

2 I will get up now, and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I did not find him.

I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him.

3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"

I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?”

4 I had scarcely passed from them, when 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 chamber of her who conceived me.

I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

5 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, or by the does of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

6 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

7 Look, it is Solomon's carriage. Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.

8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.

All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.

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

King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon.

10 He made its pillars of silver, its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, its midst being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.

He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go forth, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother bestowed on the day of his wedding— the day of his heart’s rejoicing.