Song of Solomon 3

1 At night on my bed I was longing for him whom my soul loves; I looked for him, but I could not find him.

On my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him.

2 I said to myself, “I will get up and go through the city, through the streets and squares; I will search for him whom my soul loves.” I searched for him, but I did not find him.

I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him.

3 The watchmen found me as they were making their rounds in the city. I asked them, “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?”

4 It was only a little while after I had passed them that 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 bedroom of the one who had conceived me.

I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

5 I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the fields, that you will not awaken or arouse love until she pleases.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

6 What is that coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders sold by merchants?

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

7 Look, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty warriors surround it, sixty soldiers of Israel.

Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.

8 All of them are skilled with a sword and are experienced in warfare. Every man has his sword at his side, armed against the terrors of the night.

All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.

9 King Solomon made himself a sedan chair of the wood from Lebanon.

King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon.

10 Its posts were made of silver; the back was made of gold, and the seat of purple cloth. Its interior was decorated with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go out, daughters of Zion, and gaze on King Solomon, bearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the day of the joy of his heart.

Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother bestowed on the day of his wedding— the day of his heart’s rejoicing.