Cantiques 3
1 La nuit, sur mon lit, J'ai cherché celui que mon âme aime. Je l'ai cherché, mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé.
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 Je vais me lever maintenant, et parcourir la ville; dans les rues et sur les places, je chercherai celui que mon âme aime. Je l'ai cherché, mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé.
[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 Les gardes qui parcourent la ville m'ont trouvé; « Avez-vous vu celui que mon âme aime? »
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 Je les avais à peine quittés, quand j'ai trouvé celui que mon âme aime. Je l'ai tenu dans mes bras, et je ne voulais pas le laisser partir, jusqu'à ce que je l'amène dans la maison de ma mère, dans la chambre de celle qui m'a conçu.
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 Je vous adjure, filles de Jérusalem, par les chevreuils, ou par les biches des champs, de ne pas susciter ni réveiller l'amour, jusqu'à ce qu'il le souhaite.
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 Qui est celui qui monte du désert comme des colonnes de fumée, parfumée à la myrrhe et à l'encens, avec toutes les épices du marchand?
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 Voici le carrosse de Salomon! Soixante hommes puissants l'entourent, des hommes forts d'Israël.
It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.
8 Ils manient tous l'épée, et sont experts en guerre. Chaque homme a son épée sur sa cuisse, à cause de la peur dans la nuit.
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 Le roi Salomon s'est fait une voiture du bois du Liban.
King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.
10 Il a fait ses piliers en argent, son fond d'or, son siège de pourpre, le milieu de celui-ci étant pavé d'amour, des filles de Jérusalem.
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 Sortez, filles de Sion, et allez voir le roi Salomon, avec la couronne dont sa mère l'a couronné, le jour de ses noces, au jour de l'allégresse de son cœur.
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.
