1 O n my couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and I found him not!

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

2 - - Pray, let me rise, and go round the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul hath loved! -- I sought him, and I found him not.

‘ 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 T he watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), `Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'

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

4 B ut a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother -- And the chamber of her that conceived me.

“ 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 I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!

“ 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 W ho this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

“ 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 L o, his couch, that Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones around it, Of the mighty of Israel,

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

8 A ll of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

“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 A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,

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

10 I ts pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined love, By the daughters of 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 G o forth, and look, ye daughters of Zion, On king Solomon, with the crown, With which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the joy of his heart!

“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.”