1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

“ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.”

2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

“ I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’

3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

“I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again ? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again ?

4 M y beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

“My beloved extended his hand through the opening, And my feelings were aroused for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

“I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the bolt.

6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

“I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and had gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I searched for him but I did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me.

7 T he watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, They struck me and wounded me; The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick.”

9 W hat is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

“ What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That thus you adjure us?” Admiration by the Bride

10 M y beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

“ My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, Outstanding among ten thousand.

11 H is head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

“His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven.

12 H is eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.

“His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And reposed in their setting.

13 H is cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

“His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet-scented herbs; His lips are lilies Dripping with liquid myrrh.

14 H is hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

“His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.

15 H is legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

“His legs are pillars of alabaster Set on pedestals of pure gold; His appearance is like Lebanon Choice as the cedars.

16 H is mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

“His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”