Cantar de los Cantares 3

1 Por las noches busqué en mi cama al que ama mi alma; lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

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 Me levantaré ahora, y rodearé por la ciudad; por las calles y por las plazas buscaré al que ama mi alma; lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

[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 Me hallaron los guardas que rondan la ciudad, y les dije: ¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?

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 Pasando de ellos un poco, hallé luego al que mi alma ama; trabé de él, y no lo dejé, hasta que lo metí en casa de mi madre, y en la cámara de la que me dio a luz.

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 Yo os conjuro, oh doncellas de Jerusalén, por las gamas y por las ciervas del campo, que no despertéis ni hagáis velar al amor, hasta que él quiera.

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 ¿Quién es ésta que sube del desierto como varas de humo, sahumada de mirra y de incienso, y de todos los polvos aromáticos?

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 He aquí es la cama de Salomón; sesenta fuertes la rodean, de los fuertes de Israel.

It is [Solomon], [sitting in] his portable chair surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the strongest/greatest warriors in Israel.

8 Todos ellos tienen espadas, diestros en la guerra; cada uno su cuchillo sobre su muslo, por los temores de la noche.

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 El rey Salomón se hizo un tálamo de madera del Líbano.

King Solomon [commanded his servants] to make that portable chair for him; [it was made] with wood from Lebanon.

10 Sus columnas hizo de plata, su solado de oro, su cielo de grana, su interior enlosado de amor, por las doncellas de Jerusalén.

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 Salid, oh doncellas de Sion, y ved al rey Salomón con la corona con que le coronó su madre el día de su desposorio, y el día del gozo de su corazón.

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.