Song of Solomon 3

¹In my bed at night ^a

I sought the one I love; ^b

I sought him, but did not find him. ^c,^d

²I will arise now and go about the city,

through the streets and the plazas. ^e

I will seek the one I love.

I sought him, but did not find him.

³The guards who go about the city found me. ^f

I asked them, “Have you seen the one I love? ”

⁴I 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 ^g —

to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

⁵Young 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. ^h,ⁱ

Narrator

⁶Who is this ^j coming up from the wilderness

like columns of smoke,

scented with myrrh and frankincense ^k

from every fragrant powder of the merchant?

⁷Look! Solomon’s bed

surrounded by sixty warriors

from the mighty men of Israel.

⁸All of them are skilled with swords

and trained in warfare.

Each has his sword at his side ^l

to guard against the terror of the night. ^m

⁹King Solomon made a carriage for himself

with wood from Lebanon.

¹⁰He made its posts of silver,

its back ⁿ of gold,

and its seat of purple.

Its interior is inlaid with love ^o

by the young women of Jerusalem. ^p

¹¹Go out, young women of Zion, ^q

and gaze at King Solomon,

wearing the crown his mother placed on him

on the day of his wedding ^r —

the day of his heart’s rejoicing.