1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. (To His Friends) Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones! The Shulamite’s Troubled Evening The Shulamite

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam and spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly of love, O precious one.

2 I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.”

I went to sleep, but my heart stayed awake. the voice of my beloved as he knocked. Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my spotless one, for I am wet with the night dew; my hair is covered with it.

3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?

I had put off my garment— how could I put it on? I had washed my feet—how could I soil them?

4 M y beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him.

My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my heart was moved for him.

5 I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.

I rose up to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, and my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.

6 I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and withdrawn himself, and was gone! My soul went forth when he spoke, but it failed me! I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 T he watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me.

The watchmen who go about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil and my mantle from me.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick! The Daughters of Jerusalem

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick from love.

9 W hat is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us? The Shulamite

What is your beloved more than another beloved, O you fairest among women ? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you should give us such a charge?

10 M y beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.

My beloved is fair and ruddy, the chief among ten thousand!

11 H is head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven.

His head is the finest gold; his locks are curly and bushy and black as a raven.

12 H is eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set.

His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, bathed in milk and fitly set.

13 H is cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies, Dripping liquid myrrh.

His cheeks are like a bed of spices or balsam, like banks of sweet herbs yielding fragrance. His lips are like bloodred anemones or lilies distilling liquid myrrh.

14 H is hands are rods of gold Set with beryl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.

His hands are like rods of gold set with beryl or topaz. His body is a figure of bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15 H is legs are pillars of marble Set on bases of fine gold. His countenance is like Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars.

His legs are like strong and steady pillars of marble set upon bases of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent, stately, and majestic as the cedars.

16 H is mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

His voice and speech are exceedingly sweet; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!