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The Man Speaks

I have entered my garden, my sister [4:9], my bride.
    I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey.
    I have drunk my wine and my milk [C he enjoys physical intimacy with her].

The Friends Speak

Eat, friends, and drink;
yes, ·drink deeply [be intoxicated], lovers.

The Woman Dreams

I sleep, but my ·heart [mind] ·is awake [was alert].
    ·I hear [L The sound of] my lover knocking.
“Open to me, my sister [4:9; C he desires physical intimacy], my darling,
    my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one.
My head is ·wet with [L full of] dew,
    and my hair with the ·dampness [drizzle] of the night.”
I have taken off my ·garment [clothes]
    ·and don’t want to put it on [L should I get dressed…?] again.
I have washed my feet
    ·and don’t want to get [L should I get…?] them dirty again.
My lover put his hand through the ·opening [L hole],
    and I felt ·excited inside [aroused; warmed].
I got up to open the door for my lover.
    Myrrh was dripping from my hands
and liquid myrrh [4:14] was flowing from my fingers,
    onto the handles of the lock.
I opened the door for my lover,
    but my lover had left and was gone.
    When he spoke, ·he took my breath away [L my spirit went out].
I ·looked for [sought] him, but I could not find him;
    I called for him, but he did not answer.
The ·watchmen [guards; C an ancient equivalent to police; 3:3] found me
    ·as they patrolled [those who make their rounds in] the city.
They hit me and ·hurt [bruised] me;
    the guards ·on the wall took away my veil [L lifted my garments from me].
·Promise me [I adjure you], ·women [L daughters] of Jerusalem [1:5],
    if you find my lover,
·tell him [L what should you say to him? That] I am weak with love.

The Friends Answer the Woman

How is your lover better than other lovers,
    most beautiful of women?
How is your lover better than other lovers?
    Why do you want us to promise this?

The Woman Answers the Friends

10 My lover is ·healthy [radiant] and ·tan [ruddy],
    ·the best of [distinguished among] ten thousand men.
11 His head is like ·the finest [pure] gold;
    his hair is wavy and black like a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves [1:15]
    by ·springs [streams] of water.
They seem to be bathed in ·cream [milk; C referring to the white of the eye]
    ·and are set like jewels [or sitting by pools].
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices [C his beard is perfumed];
    ·they smell like mounds of perfume [L growing aromatics].
His lips are like lilies
    flowing with myrrh [4:14].
14 His ·hands [or arms] are like gold ·hinges [or bars],
    ·filled with jewels [L set with Tarshish stones; C a location in Spain; perhaps a black jet stone or golden topaz].
His ·body [or member] is like ·shiny ivory [or an ivory tusk]
    ·covered with sapphires [ornamented with lapis].
15 His legs are like large marble ·posts [pillars],
    standing on ·bases [pedestals] of fine gold.
·He is like a cedar of [L His appearance is like] Lebanon,
    ·like the finest of the trees [L choice like the cedars].
16 His mouth is sweet [C to kiss],
    and ·I desire him very much [he is totally desirable].
Yes, ·daughters [women] of Jerusalem [1:5],
    this is my lover
and my ·friend [darling].

He

I have come into my garden,(A) my sister, my bride;(B)
    I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
    I have drunk my wine and my milk.(C)

Friends

Eat, friends, and drink;
    drink your fill of love.

She

I slept but my heart was awake.
    Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
    my dove,(D) my flawless(E) one.(F)
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night.”
I have taken off my robe—
    must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
    must I soil them again?
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
    my heart began to pound for him.
I arose to open for my beloved,
    and my hands dripped with myrrh,(G)
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
    on the handles of the bolt.
I opened for my beloved,(H)
    but my beloved had left; he was gone.(I)
    My heart sank at his departure.[a]
I looked(J) for him but did not find him.
    I called him but he did not answer.
The watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds in the city.(K)
They beat me, they bruised me;
    they took away my cloak,
    those watchmen of the walls!
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you(L)
    if you find my beloved,(M)
what will you tell him?
    Tell him I am faint with love.(N)

Friends

How is your beloved better than others,
    most beautiful of women?(O)
How is your beloved better than others,
    that you so charge us?

She

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,
    outstanding among ten thousand.(P)
11 His head is purest gold;
    his hair is wavy
    and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves(Q)
    by the water streams,
washed in milk,(R)
    mounted like jewels.
13 His cheeks(S) are like beds of spice(T)
    yielding perfume.
His lips are like lilies(U)
    dripping with myrrh.(V)
14 His arms are rods of gold
    set with topaz.
His body is like polished ivory
    decorated with lapis lazuli.(W)
15 His legs are pillars of marble
    set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,(X)
    choice as its cedars.
16 His mouth(Y) is sweetness itself;
    he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,(Z) this is my friend,
    daughters of Jerusalem.(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 5:6 Or heart had gone out to him when he spoke