< Wimbo wa Sulemani 3 >
1 Usiku katika kitanda changu nilikuwa na shauku ya yeye ni mpendaye; nilimtafuta, lakini sikumpata.
On my couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and I found him not!
2 Nilisema binafsi, “Nitainuka na kwenda kupitia mji, kupitia mitaa na sokoni; nitamtafuta.” Nilimtafuta, lakini sikumpata.
— 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.
3 Walinzi walinipata walipo kuwa doria katika mji. Nikawauliza, “Mmemuona mpenzi wangu?”
The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), 'Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'
4 Ni baada ya mda mfupi kupita nilipo wapita nikampata ninaye mpenda. Nilimshika na sikumuacha hadi nilipo mleta nyumbani mwa mama yangu, katika chumba cha yeye aliyenichukua mimba. Mwanamke akiongea na wanawake wengine.
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.
5 Ninataka muape, mabinti wa wanaume waYerusalemu, kwa ayala na paa wa porini, kuwa hamtavuruga mapenzi yetu hadi yatakapo isha yenyewe. Mwanamke mdogo akizungumza mwenyewe
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!
6 Nini hiyo inayo toka nyikani kama nguzo za moshi, umefukizwa manemane na ubani, pamoja na unga wote wa manukato unao uzwa na wafanya biashara?
Who [is] this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?
7 Angalia, nikitanda cha Sulemani; mashujaa sitini wamekizunguka, wanajeshi elfu sitini wa Israeli
Lo, his couch, that [is] Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, Of the mighty of Israel,
8 Wao ni wazoefu wa upanga na wanaujuzi wa vita. Kila mwanaume ana upanga wake pembeni yake, akijizatiti na maasi ya usiku.
All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.
9 Mfalme Sulemani akajijengea kiti cha kifalme cha kubebwa na mbao za Lebanoni.
A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,
10 Nguzo zake zilijengwa kwa fedha; nyuma kuliekwa dhahabu, na kiti kitambaa cha zambarau. Ndani mwake kulipambwa na upendo na mabinti wa wanaume wa Yerusalemu. Mwanamke mdogo akizungumza na wanawake wa Yerusalemu
Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [with] love, By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Nenda nje, mabinti wa wanaume wa Sayuni, na mtazame mfalme Sulemani, akivikwa taji ambalo mamaye alimvika siku ya arusi yake, katika siku ya furaha ya maisha yake.
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!