Song of Solomon 3

1 On my couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and I found him not!

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 — 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.

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

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 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.

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 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!

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] this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

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 Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel,

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

8 All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at 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 A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,

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

10 Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [with] love, By the daughters of Jerusalem.

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

11 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!

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.