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 sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find 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 city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find 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 city found me; “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

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 had scarcely passed from them, when 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 room of her who conceived me.

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 adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up nor awaken love, until it so desires.

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 who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

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

Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

8 All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.

9 A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,

King Solomon made himself a carriage 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 bottom of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.

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, you daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.