1 “ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my perfume with my spice. I have eaten my honey and the comb. I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat and drink, friends. Drink much, O lovers.” The Fourth Song The Woman

I am come into 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: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

2 “ I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My love was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one! For my head is wet from the water on the grass in the early morning. My hair is wet from the night.’

I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

3 I have taken off my dress. How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet. Should I get them dirty again?

I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

4 M y love put his hand through the opening, and joy filled my heart.

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

5 I got up to let my love in, and perfume fell from my hands. Wet perfume fell from my fingers onto the lock.

I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

6 I opened the door to my love, but he had already gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I looked for him, but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer me.

I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 T he watchmen of the city found me. They beat me and hurt me. The watchmen of the walls took my coat from me.

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

8 I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my loved one, you must tell him that I am weak with love.” Women of Jerusalem

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

9 “ What is your loved one more than another loved one, O most beautiful among women? What is your loved one more than another loved one, that you tell us to do this?” The Woman

What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

10 “ My loved one is bright and red, the best among 10, 000.

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

11 H is head is like gold, pure gold. His hair has waves and is black as a raven.

His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

12 H is eyes are like doves beside rivers of water, washed in milk, and resting in their places.

His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.

13 H is cheeks are like beds of spices, with sweet-smelling plants. His lips are like lily flowers giving off drops of perfume.

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

14 H is hands are strong pieces of gold set with stones of much worth. His body is made of ivory set with stones of much worth.

His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15 H is legs are pillars of clay put on bases of pure gold. He looks like Lebanon, as beautiful as the cedar trees.

His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16 H is mouth is very sweet, everything about him is pleasing. This is my loved one and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.