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 night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him.

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 must arise now and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but did not find him.

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

“ The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’

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 left them When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the room of her who 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 adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, That you will not arouse or awaken my love Until she pleases.” Solomon’s Wedding Day

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?

“ What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all scented powders of the merchant?

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

“Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men 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.

“All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, Guarding against the terrors of the night.

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

“King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber 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.

“He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold And its seat of purple fabric, With its interior lovingly fitted out 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, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart.”