Song of Solomon 3
1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
Bride: On my bed, throughout the night, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him.
2 [I said], I will rise now, and go about the city, in the streets and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
I will rise up, and I will circle through the city. Through the side streets and thoroughfares, I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him.
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: [to whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
The watchers who guard the city found me: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”
4 It was but a little that I passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
When I had passed by them a little, I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not release him, until I would bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who bore me.
5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awaken love, until it please.
Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, until she wills.
6 Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
Chorus to Groom: Who is she, who ascends through the desert, like a staff of smoke from the aromatics of myrrh, and frankincense, and every powder of the perfumer?
7 Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; threescore mighty men are about it, of the mighty men of Israel.
Chorus to Bride: Lo, sixty strong ones, out of all the strongest in Israel, stand watch at the bed of Solomon,
8 They all handle the sword, [and] are expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.
all holding swords and well-trained in warfare, each one’s weapon upon his thigh, because of fears in the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a palanquin of the wood of Lebanon.
Bride to Chorus: King Solomon made himself a portable throne from the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.
He made its columns of silver, the reclining place of gold, the ascent of purple; the middle he covered well, out of charity for the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, with the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
O daughters of Zion, go forth and see king Solomon with the diadem with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his espousal, on the day of the rejoicing of his heart.
