1 In my bed at night 3:1 Or bed night after night
I sought the one I love; 3:1 Sg 1:7
I sought him, but did not find him. 3:1 LXX adds I called him, but he did not answer me, 3:1 Sg 5:6
2 I will arise now and go about the city,
through the streets and the plazas. 3:2 Jr 5:1
I will seek the one I love.
I sought him, but did not find him.
3 The guards who go about the city found me. 3:3 Sg 5:7
I asked them, "Have you seen the one I love? "
4 I had just passed them
when I found the one I love.
I held on to him and would not let him go
until I brought him to my mother’s house 3:4 Sg 8:2 —
to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
5 Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and the wild does of the field,
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time. 3:5 Lit until it pleases, 3:5 Sg 2:7; 5:8; 8:4
Narrator
6 Who is this 3:6 Sg 6:10; 8:5 coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
scented with myrrh and frankincense 3:6 Sg 4:6,14
from every fragrant powder of the merchant?
7 Look! Solomon’s bed
surrounded by sixty warriors
from the mighty men of Israel.
8 All of them are skilled with swords
and trained in warfare.
Each has his sword at his side 3:8 Ps 45:3
to guard against the terror of the night. 3:8 Ps 91:5
9 King Solomon made a carriage for himself
with wood from Lebanon.
10 He made its posts of silver,
its back 3:10 Or base, or canopy of gold,
and its seat of purple.
Its interior is inlaid with love 3:10 Or leather
by the young women of Jerusalem. 3:10 Sg 1:5
11 Go out, young women of Zion, 3:11 Is 3:16–17; 4:4
and gaze at King Solomon,
wearing the crown his mother placed on him
on the day of his wedding 3:11 Is 62:5 —
the day of his heart’s rejoicing.