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

On my couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and 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.

-- Pray, let me rise, and go round the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul hath loved! -- I sought him, and 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 have found me, (Who are going round about the city), `Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'

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.

But a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother -- And 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 have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she 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 this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

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

Lo, his couch, that Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones around 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.

All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

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

A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, 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 bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined 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, and look, ye daughters of Zion, On king Solomon, with the crown, With which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the joy of his heart!