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

In the night I dreamed that I sought the one whom I love. I looked for him but could not find him.

2 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.

So I decided to go out into the city, into the streets and broad ways, and seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I could not find him.

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

The watchmen who go about the city found me, to whom I said, Have you seen him whom my soul loves?

4 I t 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 had gone but a little way past 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, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

5 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.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field that you stir not up nor awaken love until it pleases.

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

Who or what is this that comes gliding out of the wilderness like stately pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrh, frankincense, and all the fragrant powders of the merchant?

7 B ehold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

Behold, it is the traveling litter (the bridal car) of Solomon. Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

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

They all handle the sword and are expert in war; every man has his sword upon his thigh, that fear be not excited in the night.

9 K ing Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

King Solomon made himself a car or a palanquin from the wood of Lebanon.

10 H e 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.

He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple, the inside of it lovingly and intricately wrought in needlework by the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 G o 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.

Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of his gladness of heart.