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 couch during the nights I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

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.

Oh, I must rise now, and go about in the city in the streets, and in the open places; I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

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?”

Then found me the watchmen that walked about the city. “Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?”

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.

Scarcely had I passed away from them, when I found him whom my soul loveth: I laid fast hold of him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that had born 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.

I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor excite my love, till it please [to come of itself].—

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 that cometh up from the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spicy powders of the merchant?

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

Behold, it is the bed, which is Solomon's, sixty valiant men are round about it, of the valiant ones 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 of them are girded with the sword, are expert in war; every one hath his sword upon his thigh, because of the terror in the nights.

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

A palanquin did king Solomon make for himself out of the wood 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.

The pillars thereof he made of silver, its coverlid of gold, its seat of purple: its inner part is arranged lovely, 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.

Go forth, and look, O ye daughters of Zion, on king Solomon, with the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him on the day of his espousals, and on the day of the joy in his heart.