Hawo 3
1 Medi ame si nye dzi lɔ̃na la le nye aba dzi zã blibo la katã; medii, gake nyemekpɔe o.
All through the night [while I lay] on my bed, I longed for the one whom I love. I desired for him [to come], but he did not come.
2 Matso azɔ ayi aɖadii le dua me, le ablɔwo dzi kple kpɔdomewo. Matsa adi ame si nye dzi lɔ̃na la, ale medii ʋuu keke, gake nyemekpɔe o.
[So I said to myself], “I will get up now and walk around the city, through the streets and plazas, to search for the one whom I love.” [So] I [got up and] searched for him, but I could not find him.
3 Esi mele tsatsam le dua me le edim la, medo go zãdzɔlawo, eye mebia wo be, “Miekpɔ ame si nye dzi lɔ̃na la mahã?”
The city watchmen saw me while they were patrolling/walking around the city. [I asked them], “Have you seen the one whom I love?”
4 Nyemekpɔ dze le wo ŋu hafi kpɔ ame si nye dzi lɔ̃na la o. Meku ɖe eŋu goŋgoŋgoŋ be madzo o, va se ɖe esime mekplɔe yi danye ƒe aƒe me, yi ɖe ame si dzim la ƒe xɔ me.
As soon as I walked past them, I found the one whom I love. I clung to him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room where my mother had conceived me (OR, where I was born).
5 Yerusalem nyɔnuviwo, meta sãde kple zinɔ le gbe me na mi be, “Migaʋuʋu lɔlɔ̃ alo anyɔe o, va se ɖe esime eya ŋutɔ nalɔ̃ hafi.”
You women of Jerusalem, solemnly promise me, while the does and gazelles [are listening], that you will not disturb us while we are making love until we are ready to quit.
6 Ame kae nye esi gbɔna tso gbegbe abe dzudzɔ babla si wotɔtɔ kple lifi kple atike ʋeʋĩ si wowɔ kple nu vovovo siwo woƒle le asitsalawo si la ene?
Who is it that is coming from the desert, who is [stirring up dust] like a column of smoke from burning myrrh and incense [made from] spices [imported by] merchants?
7 Kpɔ ɖa, Solomo ƒe tasiaɖam ye! Kalẽtɔ blaade siwo nye aʋakalẽtɔ akuakuawo tso Israel ƒe aʋakɔwo dome la le eŋu dzɔm.
It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.
8 Wo katã wota yi ɖe aklito, wobi ɖe aʋawɔwɔ me, woƒe asiwo le woƒe yiwo dzi, eye wole klalo na zãmeŋɔdzi ɖe sia ɖe.
They all have swords and they [all] (are trained to/know well how to) use them. Each one has his sword [strapped to] his side and [is prepared to defend Solomon from] dangers that might occur even during the night.
9 Fia Solomo ŋutɔe wɔ tasiaɖam la na eɖokui, ewɔe kple ʋuƒo siwo wotsɔ tso Lebanon.
King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.
10 Ewɔ eƒe afɔtiwo kple klosalo, eye wòwɔ egɔme kple sika. Wotsɔ agovɔ nyuitɔ wɔ zikpui si le eme, eye wotsɔ Yerusalem nyɔnuviwo ƒe lɔlɔ̃ ɖo atsyɔ̃ na emee.
The [canopy that covered it] was (held up/supported) by posts made of silver, and the back of the chair was [embroidered] with gold. The seat/cushion was covered with purple cloth lovingly made/woven by the women of Jerusalem.
11 Mi Zion vinyɔnuwo, mido go va kpɔ Fia Solomo si ɖɔ fiakuku, kuku si dadaa ɖɔ nɛ le eƒe srɔ̃ɖegbe, gbe si gbe eƒe dzi kpɔ dzidzɔ vevie la ɖa.
You women of Jerusalem, come and look at King Solomon wearing the headdress that his mother put on his head on the day when he was married, the day when he [SYN] was very happy.
