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On my bed in the night
    I longed for the one my soul loves.
    I looked for him but did not find him.
I will get up and go about the city,
    into the streets and into the squares.
I must seek the one my soul loves.
    I looked for him but did not find him.
The guards patrolling the city found me.
“Have you seen the one my soul loves?”
Hardly had I passed beyond them
    when I found the one my soul loves.
I held him, and I would not let him go,
    until I brought him to my mother’s house,
    to the chamber of her who conceived me.

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you,
    by the gazelles and does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it delights.

The King on his Wedding Day

Who is this—she who is coming up from the wilderness
    like columns of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
    with every powder of the merchant?
Behold, it is Solomon’s traveling couch—
    around it are sixty warriors
    from the warriors of Israel.
All of them wield a sword,
    experts in war.
Each man with his sword on his thigh
    against terrors of the night.
King Solomon has made for himself
    a carriage from the trees of Lebanon.
10 He made its posts of silver, its back of gold,
    its seat of purple cloth,
its interior fitted out with love
    by the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go out, daughters of Zion,
    and gaze upon King Solomon,
with a wreath his mother placed on him
    on the day of his marriage—
    on the day of his heart’s joy.

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

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

10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

A Troubled Night

The Shulamite

By (A)night on my bed I sought the one I love;
I sought him, but I did not find him.
“I will rise now,” I said,
“And go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I will seek the one I love.”
I sought him, but I did not find him.
(B)The watchmen who go about the city found me;
I said,
“Have you seen the one I love?”

Scarcely had I passed by them,
When I found the one I love.
I held him and would not let him go,
Until I had brought him to the (C)house of my mother,
And into the [a]chamber of her who conceived me.

(D)I [b]charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
Do not stir up nor awaken love
Until it pleases.

The Coming of Solomon

The Shulamite

(E)Who is this coming out of the wilderness
Like pillars of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?
Behold, it is Solomon’s couch,
With sixty valiant men around it,
Of the valiant of Israel.
They all hold swords,
Being expert in war.
Every man has his sword on his thigh
Because of fear in the night.

Of the wood of Lebanon
Solomon the King
Made himself a [c]palanquin:
10 He made its pillars of silver,
Its support of gold,
Its seat of purple,
Its interior paved with love
By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion,
And see King Solomon with the crown
With which his mother crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
The day of the gladness of his heart.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 3:4 room
  2. Song of Solomon 3:5 adjure
  3. Song of Solomon 3:9 A portable enclosed chair