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.

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 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.

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 who go about the city found me; "Have you seen 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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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 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 carriage of the wood of Lebanon.

(Solomon's sedan chair was made for him with wood from 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.

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, 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! Look, women of Zion! See King Solomon wearing the crown that his mother placed on his head on his wedding day, his happiest day.