1 I have come in to my garden, my sister-spouse, I have plucked my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my comb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, drink, Yea, drink abundantly, O beloved ones!

2 I am sleeping, but my heart waketh: The sound of my beloved knocking! `Open to me, my sister, my friend, My dove, my perfect one, For my head is filled dew, My locks drops of the night.'

3 I have put off my coat, how do I put it on? I have washed my feet, how do I defile them?

4 M y beloved sent his hand from the net-work, And my bowels were moved for him.

5 I rose to open to my beloved, And my hands dropped myrrh, Yea, my fingers flowing myrrh, On the handles of the lock.

6 I opened to my beloved, But my beloved withdrew -- he passed on, My soul went forth when he spake, I sought him, and found him not. I called him, and he answered me not.

7 T he watchmen who go round about the city, Found me, smote me, wounded me, Keepers of the walls lifted up my veil from off me.

8 I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved -- What do ye tell him? that I sick with love!

9 W hat thy beloved above beloved, O fair among women? What thy beloved above beloved, That thus thou hast adjured us?

10 M y beloved clear and ruddy, Conspicuous above a myriad!

11 H is head pure gold -- fine gold, His locks flowing, dark as a raven,

12 H is eyes as doves by streams of water, Washing in milk, sitting in fulness.

13 H is cheeks as a bed of the spice, towers of perfumes, His lips lilies, dropping flowing myrrh,

14 H is hands rings of gold, set with beryl, His heart bright ivory, covered with sapphires,

15 H is limbs pillars of marble, Founded on sockets of fine gold, His appearance as Lebanon, choice as the cedars.

16 H is mouth is sweetness -- and all of him desirable, This my beloved, and this my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!