Song of Solomon 3

1 All through the night [while I lay] on my bed, I longed for the one whom I love. I desired for him [to come], but he did not come.

By night on my bed I was looking for him who is the love of my soul: I was looking for him, but I did not see him.

2 [So I said to myself], “I will get up now and walk around the city, through the streets and plazas, to search for the one whom I love.” [So] I [got up and] searched for him, but I could not find him.

I will get up now and go about the town, in the streets and in the wide ways I will go after him who is the love of my soul: I went after him, but I did not see him.

3 The city watchmen saw me while they were patrolling/walking around the city. [I asked them], “Have you seen the one whom I love?”

The watchmen who go about the town came by me; to them I said, Have you seen him who is my heart's desire?

4 As soon as I walked past them, I found the one whom I love. I clung to him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room where my mother had conceived me (OR, where I was born).

I was but a little way from them, when I came face to face with him who is the love of my soul. I took him by the hands, and did not let him go, till I had taken him into my mother's house, and into the room of her who gave me birth.

5 You women of Jerusalem, solemnly promise me, while the does and gazelles [are listening], that you will not disturb us while we are making love until we are ready to quit.

I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes of the field, let not love be moved till it is ready.

6 Who is it that is coming from the desert, who is [stirring up dust] like a column of smoke from burning myrrh and incense [made from] spices [imported by] merchants?

Who is this coming out of the waste places like pillars of smoke, perfumed with sweet spices, with all the spices of the trader?

7 It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.

See, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty men of war are about it, of the army of Israel,

8 They all have swords and they [all] (are trained to/know well how to) use them. Each one has his sword [strapped to] his side and [is prepared to defend Solomon from] dangers that might occur even during the night.

All of them armed with swords, trained in war; every man has his sword at his side, because of fear in the night.

9 King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.

King Solomon made himself a bed of the wood of Lebanon.

10 The [canopy that covered it] was (held up/supported) by posts made of silver, and the back of the chair was [embroidered] with gold. The seat/cushion was covered with purple cloth lovingly made/woven by the women of Jerusalem.

He made its pillars of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it of ebony.

11 You women of Jerusalem, come and look at King Solomon wearing the headdress that his mother put on his head on the day when he was married, the day when he [SYN] was very happy.

Go out, O daughters of Jerusalem, and see King Solomon, with the crown which his mother put on his head on the day when he was married, and on the day of the joy of his heart.