1 ¶ I came into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh and my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk: eat, O friends; drink, beloved, drink abundantly.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Friends Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved. Beloved

2 ¶ I sleep, but my heart watches for the voice of my beloved that knocks at the door, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness 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 robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?

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

My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.

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

I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.

6 I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone; my soul went after his speech; I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.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 left; and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn’t find him. I called him, but he didn’t answer.

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 outer cloak from me.

The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.

8 I charge you, O virgins of Jerusalem, if ye should find my beloved that ye cause him to know how sick I am with love.

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am faint with love. Friends

9 ¶ What 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?

How is your beloved better than another beloved, you fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us? Beloved

10 M y beloved is white and ruddy; the standard-bearer among the ten thousands.

My beloved is white and ruddy. The best 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 the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.

12 H is eyes are as doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, as doves that are next to abundance.

His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels.

13 H is cheeks are as a bed of aromatic spices, as fragrant flowers; his lips like lilies, dripping sweet smelling myrrh that transcends.

His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

14 H is hands are as gold rings set with beryls; his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.

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

His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

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

His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.