Song of Solomon, 3
1. On my bed at night I sought the man who is my sweetheart: I sought but could not find him!
1. Upon my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.
2. So I shall get up and go through the city; in the streets and in the squares, I shall seek my sweetheart. I sought but could not find him!
2. "I will rise 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 found him not.
3. I came upon the watchmen -- those who go on their rounds in the city: 'Have you seen my sweetheart?'
3. The watchmen found me, as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"
4. Barely had I passed them when I found my sweetheart. I caught him, would not let him go, not till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room where she conceived me!
4. Scarcely had I passed 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, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5. LOVER: I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, by gazelles and wild does, do not rouse, do not wake my beloved before she pleases.
5. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the hinds of the field, that you stir not up nor awaken love until it please.
6. POET: What is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, breathing of myrrh and frankincense and every exotic perfume?
6. What is that coming up from the wilderness, like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant?
7. Here comes Solomon's litter. Around it are sixty champions, the flower of the warriors of Israel;
7. Behold, it is the litter of Solomon! About it are sixty mighty men of the mighty men of Israel,
8. all of them skilled swordsmen, expert in war. Each man has his sword at his side, against alarms by night.
8. all girt with swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against alarms by night.
9. King Solomon has had a palanquin made of wood from Lebanon.
9. King Solomon made himself a palanquin from the wood of Lebanon.
10. He has had the posts made of silver, the canopy of gold, the seat of purple; the centre is inlaid with ebony.
10. He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; it was lovingly wrought within by the daughters of Jerusalem.
11. Daughters of Zion, come and see King Solomon, wearing the diadem with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the day of his heart's joy.
11. Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.
