Song of Songs 3

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.