Cantiques 3
1 Sur ma couche, la nuit, j'ai désiré celui qu'aime mon âme; je l'ai cherché, et ne l'ai point trouvé; je l'ai appelé, et il ne m'a pas écouté.
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 me lèverai donc; j'irai par la ville, les marchés, les places, et je chercherai celui qu'aime mon âme. Je l'ai cherché, et ne l'ai point 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 gardiens m'ont rencontrée, en faisant la ronde dans la ville: N'avez- vous pas vu celui qu'aime mon âme?
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 À peine éloignée d'eux, j'ai trouvé celui qu'aime mon âme; je l'ai pris par la main, et ne l'ai point quitté que je ne l'eusse introduit dans la maison de ma mère, dans la chambre de celle qui m'a conçue.
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 Filles de Jérusalem, je vous adjure par les puissances et les vertus des campagnes, n'éveillez pas, ne réveillez pas ma bien-aimée, qu'elle ne le désire.
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 celle qui monte du désert, comme une colonne de fumée sortant de l'encens et de la myrrhe, et de toutes les poudres dont se composent les parfums?
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 Voilà la couche de Salomon; soixante vaillants des forts d'Israël sont rangés en cercle autour d'elle.
It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.
8 Tous exercés aux combats, ils ont l'épée au côté, pour en écarter les terreurs de 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 un lit de cèdres du Liban.
King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.
10 Les montants en sont d'argent, et le siège est d'or; le marchepied est de porphyre, et l'intérieur est pavé de pierres précieuses, 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 Filles de Sion, sortez, contemplez le roi Salomon avec la couronne que lui a posée sa mère le jour de son mariage, le jour de la joie 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.
