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.
Ubusuku bonke ngisembhedeni wami ngamdinga lowo othandwa yinhliziyo yami; ngamdinga kodwa kangimfumananga.
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.
Sengivuka manje ngizulazule phakathi kwedolobho, emigwaqweni lasemagcekeni alo; ngizalibhudula ngidinga othandwa yinhliziyo yami. Kanjalo ngamdinga kodwa angaze ngamthola.
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?”
Abalindi bangifica belokhu benquma phakathi kwedolobho. “Like lambona yini lowo othandwa yinhliziyo yami?”
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).
Ngathi ngisedlula kubo ngabe ngimbona othandwa yinhliziyo yami. Ngambamba angaze ngamyekela ukuba ahambe ngaze ngamletha endlini kamama, endlini yakhe lowo owangizalayo.
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.
Madodakazi aseJerusalema, ngiyaliqonqosela ngezimpala langezimpalakazi zeganga. Lingalunyakazisi loba liluvuse uthando luze luzifunele lona.
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?
Ngubani lo ozayo eqhamuka enkangala kungathi yisikhatha sentuthu, eziqhole ngamakha emure lenhlaka eyenziwe ngemihlobo yonke yezinongo zomthengisi?
7 It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.
Khangela! Yinqola kaSolomoni, isekelwe ngamabutho angamatshumi ayisithupha, angabathenjwa abayinqaba ko-Israyeli,
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.
bonke begqize izinkemba enqulwini, bonke sebake bazilwa izimpi, ngulowo lalowo inkemba yakhe eceleni kwakhe, elungele ukuhlatshwa komkhosi ebusuku.
9 King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.
Inkosi uSolomoni yazenzela inqola leyo; yayenza ngezigodo zeLebhanoni.
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.
Imijabo yayo yayenza ngesiliva, isisekelo sayo yasenza ngegolide. Isihlalo sayo yasithungela ilembu eliyibubende ingaphakathi yayo yaceciswa ngothando ngamadodakazi aseJerusalema.
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.
Phumani phandle madodakazi aseZiyoni, libone iNkosi uSolomoni ithwele umqhele, umqhele ewetheswa ngunina mhla welanga atshada ngalo, ilanga inhliziyo yakhe yathokoza ngalo.
