1 E n mi lecho, por las noches, he buscado al que ama mi alma; lo busqué, mas 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 “ 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.

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 A penas 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:

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 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:

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

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 valientes la rodean, de los valientes 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 manejan la espada, son diestros en la guerra, cada uno tiene la espada a su lado, contra los peligros 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 ha hecho un palanquín de madera del Líbano.

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

10 H izo sus columnas de plata, su respaldo de oro y su asiento de púrpura, su interior tapizado con amor por las hijas 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, 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.

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.