1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam and spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly of love, O precious one.

I am come into my garden, my sister, 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, beloved ones!

2 I went to sleep, but my heart stayed awake. the voice of my beloved as he knocked. Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my spotless one, for I am wet with the night dew; my hair is covered with it.

I slept, but my heart was awake. The voice of my beloved! he knocketh: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, mine undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.

3 I had put off my garment— how could I put it on? I had washed my feet—how could I soil them?

—I have put off my tunic, how should I put it on? I have washed my feet, how should I pollute them?—

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

My beloved put in his hand by the hole; And my bowels yearned for him.

5 I rose up to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, and my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.

I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the lock.

6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and withdrawn himself, and was gone! My soul went forth when he spoke, but it failed me! 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I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had withdrawn himself; he was gone: My soul went forth when he spoke. I sought him, but I found him not; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 T he watchmen who go about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil and my mantle from me.

The 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.

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

I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, … What will ye tell him?—That I am sick of love.

9 W hat is your beloved more than another beloved, O you fairest among women ? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you should give us such a charge?

What is thy beloved more than beloved, Thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than beloved, That thou dost so charge us?

10 M y beloved is fair and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand!

My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.

11 H is head is the finest gold; his locks are curly and bushy and black as a raven.

His head is the finest gold; His locks are flowing, black as the raven;

12 H is eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, bathed in milk and fitly set.

His eyes are like doves by the water-brooks, Washed with milk, fitly set;

13 H is cheeks are like a bed of spices or balsam, like banks of sweet herbs yielding fragrance. His lips are like bloodred anemones or lilies distilling liquid myrrh.

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, raised beds of sweet plants; His lips lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

14 H is hands are like rods of gold set with beryl or topaz. His body is a figure of bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

His hands gold rings, set with the chrysolite; His belly is bright ivory, overlaid sapphires;

15 H is legs are like strong and steady pillars of marble set upon bases of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent, stately, and majestic as the cedars.

His legs, pillars of marble, set upon bases of fine gold: His bearing as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars;

16 H is voice and speech are exceedingly sweet; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

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