1 P or las noches busqué en mi cama al que ama mi alma; lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

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

2 M e levantaré ahora, y rodearé por la ciudad; por las calles y por las plazas buscaré al que ama mi alma; lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

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

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

4 P asando de ellos un poco, hallé luego al que mi alma ama; trabé de él, y no lo dejé, hasta que lo metí en la casa de mi madre, y en la cámara de la que me dio a luz.

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 Y o os conjuro, oh doncellas de Jerusalén, por las gamas y por las ciervas del campo, que no despertéis ni hagáis velar al amor, hasta que él quiera.

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 ¿ Quién es ésta que sube del desierto como columnas de humo, sahumada de mirra y de incienso, y de todos los polvos aromáticos?

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 H e aquí es la litera de Salomón; sesenta fuertes la rodean, de los fuertes de 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 odos ellos tienen espadas, diestros en la guerra; cada uno su espada sobre su muslo, por los temores de la noche.

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 E l rey Salomón se hizo un tálamo de madera del Líbano.

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

10 S us columnas hizo de plata, su solado de oro, su cielo de grana, su interior enlosado de amor, por las doncellas de Jerusalén.

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 S alid, oh doncellas de Sion, y ved al rey Salomón con la corona con que le coronó su madre el día de su desposorio, y el día del gozo de su corazón.

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.