Song of Solomon 3

1 By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.

Bride: On my bed, throughout the night, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him.

2 I will get up now, and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.

I will rise up, and I will circle through the city. Through the side streets and thoroughfares, I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him.

3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

The watchers who guard the city found me: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

4 I had scarcely passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, into the room of her who conceived me.

When I had passed by them a little, I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not release him, until I would bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who bore me.

5 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up nor awaken love, until it so desires.

Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, until she wills.

6 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

Chorus to Groom: Who is she, who ascends through the desert, like a staff of smoke from the aromatics of myrrh, and frankincense, and every powder of the perfumer?

7 Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

Chorus to Bride: Lo, sixty strong ones, out of all the strongest in Israel, stand watch at the bed of Solomon,

8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.

all holding swords and well-trained in warfare, each one’s weapon upon his thigh, because of fears in the night.

9 King Solomon made himself a carriage of the wood of Lebanon.

Bride to Chorus: King Solomon made himself a portable throne from the wood of Lebanon.

10 He made its pillars of silver, its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.

He made its columns of silver, the reclining place of gold, the ascent of purple; the middle he covered well, out of charity for the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go out, you daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.

O daughters of Zion, go forth and see king Solomon with the diadem with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his espousal, on the day of the rejoicing of his heart.