1 B y night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him.

On my bed, in the nights, I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2 “ I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him.

I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broadways Will I seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3 T he watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?”

The watchmen that go about the city found me:—Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?

4 S carcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.

—Scarcely had 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.

5 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases. The Coming of Solomon The Shulamite

I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake love, till he please.

6 W ho is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?

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

7 B ehold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel.

Behold his couch, Solomon's own: Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty of Israel.

8 T hey all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night.

They all hold the sword, Experts in war; Each hath his sword upon his thigh Because of alarm in the nights.

9 O f the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin:

King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.

10 H e made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem.

Its pillars he made of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple; The midst thereof was paved love By the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 G o forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.

Go forth, daughters of Zion, And behold king Solomon With the crown wherewith his mother crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.