Cantar de los Cantares 3

1 POR las noches busqué en mi lecho al que ama mi alma: busquélo, y no lo hallé.

By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I did not find him.

2 Levantaréme ahora, y rodearé por la ciudad; por las calles y por las plazas buscaré al que ama mi alma: busquélo, y no lo hallé.

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 did not find him.

3 Halláronme los guardas que rondan la ciudad, [y díjeles]: ¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?

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

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 engendró.

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.

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

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.

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

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

7 He aquí es la litera de Salomón: sesenta valientes la rodean, de los fuertes de Israel.

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

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

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

9 El rey Salomón se hizo una carroza de madera del Líbano.

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

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

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.

11 Salid, oh doncellas de Sión, 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.

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.