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 by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and 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.

— Pray, let me rise, and go round the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul hath loved! — I sought him, and 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?”

The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), 'Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'

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.

But a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother — And the chamber of her that 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.

I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!

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 palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

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

Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty 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 holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

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

A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, 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.

Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [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.

Go forth, and look, ye daughters of Zion, On king Solomon, with the crown, With which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the joy of his heart!