Song of Solomon 5

1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends. Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. The friends speaking to the man and the woman Eat, friends; drink and be drunk with love.

2 I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night."

I was asleep, but my heart was awake. There is the sound of my beloved knocking and saying, “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled one, for my head is wet with dew, my hair with the night's dampness.”

3 I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?

“I have taken off my robe; must I put it on again? I have washed my feet; must I get them dirty?”

4 My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.

My beloved put in his hand through the opening of the door latch, and my heart was stirred up for him.

5 I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.

I got up to open the door for my beloved; my hands were dripping with myrrh, my fingers with moist myrrh, on the door handle.

6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved left; and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.

I opened the door for my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My heart sank when he spoke. I looked for him, but I did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me.

7 The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.

The watchmen found me as they were making their rounds in the city. They struck me and wounded me; the guards on the walls took away my cloak from me.

8 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am faint with love.

I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, that if you find my beloved— What will you make known to him?— that I am sick from love.

9 How is your beloved better than another beloved, you fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us?

How is your beloved better than another beloved man, most beautiful among women? Why is your beloved better than another beloved, that you ask us to take an oath like this?

10 My beloved is radiant and tan. The best among ten thousand.

My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

11 His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.

His head is the purest gold; his hair is curly and as black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels.

His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, mounted like jewels.

13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

His cheeks are like beds of spices, yielding aromatic scents. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh.

14 His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.

His arms are rounded gold set with jewels; his abdomen is ivory covered with sapphires.

15 His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

His legs are pillars of marble, set on bases of pure gold; his appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.

16 His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.

His mouth is most sweet; he is completely lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.