Cantiques 3
1 Sur ma couche, pendant les nuits, J’ai cherché celui que mon cœur aime; Je l’ai cherché, et je ne l’ai point trouvé…
At night on my bed I was longing for him whom my soul loves; I looked for him, but I could not find him.
2 Je me lèverai, et je ferai le tour de la ville, Dans les rues et sur les places; Je chercherai celui que mon cœur aime… Je l’ai cherché, et je ne l’ai point trouvé.
I said to myself, “I will get up and go through the city, through the streets and squares; I will search for him whom my soul loves.” I searched for him, but I did not find him.
3 Les gardes qui font la ronde dans la ville m’ont rencontrée: Avez-vous vu celui que mon cœur aime?
The watchmen found me as they were making their rounds in the city. I asked them, “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”
4 A peine les avais-je passés, Que j’ai trouvé celui que mon cœur aime; Je l’ai saisi, et je ne l’ai point lâché Jusqu’à ce que je l’aie amené dans la maison de ma mère, Dans la chambre de celle qui m’a conçue.
It was only a little while after I had passed them that 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 bedroom of the one who had conceived me.
5 Je vous en conjure, filles de Jérusalem, Par les gazelles et les biches des champs, Ne réveillez pas, ne réveillez pas l’amour, Avant qu’elle le veuille.
I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the fields, that you will not awaken or arouse love until she pleases.
6 Qui est celle qui monte du désert, Comme des colonnes de fumée, Au milieu des vapeurs de myrrhe et d’encens Et de tous les aromates des marchands?
What is that coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders sold by merchants?
7 Voici la litière de Salomon, Et autour d’elle soixante vaillants hommes, Des plus vaillants d’Israël.
Look, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty warriors surround it, sixty soldiers of Israel.
8 Tous sont armés de l’épée, Sont exercés au combat; Chacun porte l’épée sur sa hanche, En vue des alarmes nocturnes.
All of them are skilled with a sword and are experienced in warfare. Every man has his sword at his side, armed against the terrors of the night.
9 Le roi Salomon s’est fait une litière De bois du Liban.
King Solomon made himself a sedan chair of the wood from Lebanon.
10 Il en a fait les colonnes d’argent, Le dossier d’or, Le siège de pourpre; Au milieu est une broderie, œuvre d’amour Des filles de Jérusalem.
Its posts were made of silver; the back was made of gold, and the seat of purple cloth. Its interior was decorated with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Sortez, filles de Sion, regardez Le roi Salomon, Avec la couronne dont sa mère l’a couronné Le jour de ses fiançailles, Le jour de la joie de son cœur.
Go out, daughters of Zion, and gaze on King Solomon, bearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the day of the joy of his heart.
