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Song of Songs 3

She searches the streets for the one her heart loves, and finds him. Then Solomon comes up from the wilderness in splendour.

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She

All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. Have you seen the one my heart loves? Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

1

All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.

King James Version, 1611

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

2

I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.

King James Version, 1611

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

The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
Have you seen the one my heart loves?

King James Version, 1611

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

4

Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
till I had brought him to my mother's house,
to the room of the one who conceived me.

King James Version, 1611

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

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.

King James Version, 1611

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.

The wedding procession

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant? Look. It is Solomon's carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel, all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night. King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon. Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem, come out, and look, you daughters of Zion. Look on King Solomon wearing a crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced.

6

Who is this coming up from the wilderness
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?

King James Version, 1611

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

Look. It is Solomon's carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,

King James Version, 1611

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

8

all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.

King James Version, 1611

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

9

King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.

King James Version, 1611

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

10

Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior inlaid with love.
Daughters of Jerusalem,

King James Version, 1611

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

come out,
and look, you daughters of Zion.
Look on King Solomon wearing a crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

King James Version, 1611

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.