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

En mi lecho, por las noches, he buscado al que ama mi alma; lo busqué, mas no lo hallé.

2 I said, 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.

“Me levantaré ahora, y andaré por la ciudad; por las calles y por las plazas buscaré al que ama mi alma.” Lo busqué, mas no lo hallé.

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

Me hallaron los guardas que rondan la ciudad, y les dije: “¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?”

4 I t was but a little that I passed from them, When 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.

Apenas los había pasado cuando hallé al que ama mi alma; lo agarré y no quise soltarlo, hasta que lo introduje en la casa de mi madre y en la alcoba de la que me concibió. EL ESPOSO:

5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.

Yo os conjuro, oh hijas de Jerusalén, por las gacelas o por las ciervas del campo, que no levantéis ni despertéis a mi amor, hasta que quiera. EL CORO:

6 W ho is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?

¿Qué es eso que sube del desierto como columnas de humo, con perfume de mirra e incienso, con todos los polvos aromáticos del mercader ?

7 B ehold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.

He aquí, es la litera de Salomón; sesenta valientes la rodean, de los valientes de Israel.

8 T hey all handle the sword, and are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.

Todos ellos manejan la espada, son diestros en la guerra, cada uno tiene la espada a su lado, contra los peligros de la noche.

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

El rey Salomón se ha hecho un palanquín de madera del Líbano.

10 H e made the pillars thereof of silver, The bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, The midst thereof being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.

Hizo sus columnas de plata, su respaldo de oro y su asiento de púrpura, su interior tapizado con amor por las hijas de Jerusalén.

11 G o forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, With the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Salid, hijas de Sion, y contemplad al rey Salomón con la corona con la cual su madre lo coronó el día de sus bodas, el día de la alegría de su corazón.