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 couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and I found him not!

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.

— Pray, let me rise, and go round the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul hath loved! — I sought him, and I found him not.

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

The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), 'Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'

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.

But a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother — And the chamber of her that 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.

I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!

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

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

Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty 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 of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

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

A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood 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.

Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [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.

Go forth, and look, ye 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!