1 P or las noches busqué en mi lecho al que ama mi alma; Lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2 Y dije: Me levantaré ahora, y daré vueltas por la ciudad; Por las calles y por las plazas Buscaré al que ama mi alma; Lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3 M e encontraron los guardas que rondan por la ciudad, Y les dije: ¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?

The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

4 A penas hube pasado de ellos un poco, Hallé luego al que ama mi alma; Lo agarré, y no lo solté, Hasta que lo introduje en casa de mi madre, En la alcoba de la que me dio a luz.

It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

5 Y o os conjuro, oh doncellas de Jerusalén, Por los corzos y por las ciervas del campo, Que no despertéis ni hagáis velar al amor, Hasta que quiera. El cortejo de bodas

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

6 ¿ Qué es eso que sube del desierto como una columna de humo, Como nube de mirra y de incienso Y de todo polvo aromático?

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

7 M irad; es la litera de Salomón; Sesenta valientes la rodean, De los fuertes de Israel.

Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

8 T odos ellos llevan espada al cinto, diestros en la guerra; Cada uno su espada sobre su muslo, Por las alarmas de la noche.

They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

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

King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

10 H izo sus columnas de plata, Su respaldo de oro, Su asiento de grana, Su interior tapizado de amor Por las doncellas de Jerusalén.

He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for 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 en el día de sus desposorios, El día del gozo de su corazón.

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.