1 My bride, my very own,

I come to my garden

and enjoy its spices.

I eat my honeycomb and honey;

I drink my wine and milk.

Eat and drink until

you are drunk with love.

2 I was asleep, but dreaming:

The one I love was at the door,

knocking and saying,

"My darling, my very own,

my flawless dove,

open the door for me!

My head is drenched

with evening dew."

3 But I had already undressed

and bathed my feet.

Should I dress again

and get my feet dirty?

4 Then my darling's hand

reached to open the latch,

and my heart stood still.

5 When I rose to open the door,

my hands and my fingers

dripped with perfume.

6 And I yearned for him

while he spoke to me,

but when I opened the door,

my darling had disappeared.

I searched and shouted,

but I could not find him—

there was no answer.

7 Then I was found by the guards

patrolling the town

and guarding the wall.

They beat me up

and stripped off my robe.

8 Young women of Jerusalem,

if you find the one I love,

please say to him,

"She is weak with desire."

9 Most beautiful of women,

why is the one you love

more special than others?

Why do you ask us

to tell him how you feel?

10 He is handsome and healthy,

the most outstanding

among ten thousand.

11 His head is purest gold;

his hair is wavy,

black as a raven.

12 His eyes are a pair of doves

bathing in a stream

flowing with milk.*

13 His face is a garden

of sweet-smelling spices;

his lips are lilies

dripping with perfume.

14 His arms are branches of gold

covered with jewels;

his body is ivory*

decorated with sapphires.

15 His legs are columns of marble

on feet of gold.

He stands there majestic

like Mount Lebanon

and its choice cedar trees.

16 His kisses are sweet.

I desire him so much!

Young women of Jerusalem,

he is my lover and friend.