1 P OR las noches busqué en mi lecho al que ama mi alma: Busquélo, y no lo hallé.

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

2 L evantaréme ahora, y rodearé por la ciudad; Por las calles y por las plazas Buscaré al que ama mi alma: Busquélo, y no lo hallé.

‘ 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 H alláronme los guardas que rondan la ciudad, Y díjeles: ¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?

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

4 P asando de ellos un poco, Hallé luego al que mi alma ama: Trabé de él, y no lo dejé, Hasta que lo metí en casa de mi madre, Y en la cámara de la que me engendró.

“ 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 Y o os conjuro, oh doncellas de Jerusalem, Por las gamas y por las ciervas del campo, Que no despertéis ni hagáis velar al amor, Hasta que quiera.

“ 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 ¿ Quién es ésta que sube del desierto como columnita de humo, Sahumada de mirra y de incienso, Y de todos polvos aromáticos?

“ 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 H e aquí es la litera de Salomón: Sesenta valientes la rodean, De los fuertes de Israel.

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

8 T odos ellos tienen espadas, diestros en la guerra; Cada uno su espada sobre su muslo, Por los temores de la noche.

“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 E l rey Salomón se hizo una carroza De madera del Líbano.

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

10 S us columnas hizo de plata, Su respaldo de oro, su cielo de grana, Su interior enlosado de amor, Por las doncellas de 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 S alid, oh doncellas de Sión, y ved al rey Salomón Con la corona con que le coronó su madre el día de su desposorio, Y el día del gozo de su corazón.

“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.”