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 loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.

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 get up now, and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.

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

The watchmen who go about the city found me; “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

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.

I had scarcely passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, into the room of her who 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 adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.

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 who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

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

Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men 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 handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on 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 carriage 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 its pillars of silver, its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, from 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 out, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.