Song of Solomon 3-5
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
1'On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him. 2‘ I must arise now and go around in the city; In the streets and in the public squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but did not find him. 3The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’ 4Hardly had I left them When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the room of her who conceived me.' 5'Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, That you will not disturb or awaken my love Until she pleases.' 6'What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the scented powders of the merchant? 7Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon; Sixty warriors around it, Of the warriors of Israel. 8All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, Guarding against the terrors of the night. 9King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon. 10He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold And its seat of purple fabric, With its interior lovingly inlaid By the daughters of Jerusalem. 11Go out, you daughters of Zion, And look at King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of the joy of his heart.'Chapter 4
1'How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; Your hair is like a flock of goats That have descended from Mount Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep Which have come up from their watering place, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young. 3Your lips are like a scarlet thread, And your mouth is beautiful. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate Behind your veil. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with layers of stones On which are hung a thousand shields, All the round shields of the warriors. 5Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle That graze among the lilies. 6Until the cool of the day When the shadows flee, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense. 7'You are altogether beautiful, my darling, And there is no blemish on you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, You shall come with me from Lebanon. You shall come down from the summit of Amana, From the summit of Senir and Hermon, From the dens of lions, From the mountains of leopards. 9You have enchanted my heart, my sister, my bride; You have enchanted my heart with a single glance of your eyes, With a single strand of your necklace. 10How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much sweeter is your love than wine, And the fragrance of your oils Than that of all kinds of balsam oils! 11Your lips drip honey, my bride; Honey and milk are under your tongue, And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. 12A locked garden is my sister, my bride, A locked spring, a sealed fountain. 13Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates With delicious fruits, henna with nard plants, 14Nard and saffron, spice reed and cinnamon, With all the trees of frankincense, Myrrh, and aloes, along with all the finest balsam oils. 15 You are a garden spring, A well of fresh water, And flowing streams from Lebanon.' 16'Awake, north wind, And come, wind of the south; Make my garden breathe out fragrance, May its balsam oils flow. May my beloved come into his garden And eat its delicious fruits!'Chapter 5
1'I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and drink deeply, lovers.' 2'I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the dew drops of the night.’ 3I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again? 4My beloved extended his hand through the opening, And my feelings were stirred for him. 5I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with drops of myrrh, On the handles of the bolt. 6I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and had gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I searched for him but I did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me. 7The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, They struck me and wounded me; The guards of the walls took my shawl away from me. 8Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick.' 9'What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That you make us swear in this way?' 10'My beloved is dazzling and reddish, Outstanding among ten thousand. 11His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven. 12His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And perched in their setting. 13His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of herbal spices; His lips are lilies Dripping with drops of myrrh. 14His hands are rods of gold Set with topaz; His abdomen is panels of ivory Covered with sapphires. 15His thighs are pillars of alabaster Set on pedestals of pure gold; His appearance is like Lebanon, Choice as the cedars. 16His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, You daughters of Jerusalem.'King James Version
4It 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.
5I 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.
6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
7Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
8Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
11Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
12A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
15A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
16Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
Chapter 5
1I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. 2I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. 3I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
7The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
9What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 3
1In my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him. 2I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and the plazas. I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but did not find him. 3The guards who go about the city found me. 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 — 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.
6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense 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 to guard against the terror of the night.
9King Solomon made a carriage for himself with wood from Lebanon.
10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, and its seat of purple. Its interior is inlaid with love by the young women of Jerusalem.
11Go out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother placed on him on the day of his wedding — the day of his heart’s rejoicing.
Chapter 4
1How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Behind your veil, your eyes are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from washing, each one bearing twins, and none has lost its young. 3Your lips are like a scarlet cord, and your mouth is lovely. Behind your veil, your brow is like a slice of pomegranate. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, constructed in layers. A thousand shields are hung on it— all of them shields of warriors. 5Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that feed among the lilies. 6Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will make my way to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.
7You are absolutely beautiful, my darling; there is no imperfection in you.
8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summit of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
9You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride. You have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
10How delightful your caresses are, my sister, my bride. Your caresses are much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any balsam.
11Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12My sister, my bride, you are a locked garden— a locked garden and a sealed spring.
13Your branches are a paradise of pomegranates with choicest fruits; henna with nard,
14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices.
15You are a garden spring, a well of flowing water streaming from Lebanon.
16Awaken, north wind; come, south wind. Blow on my garden, and spread the fragrance of its spices. Let my love come to his garden and eat its choicest fruits.
Chapter 5
1I have come to my garden—my sister, my bride. I gather my myrrh with my spices. I eat my honeycomb with my honey. I drink my wine with my milk. Eat, friends! Drink, be intoxicated with caresses! 2I was sleeping, but my heart was awake. A sound! My love was knocking! Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with droplets of the night. 3I have taken off my clothing. How can I put it back on? I have washed my feet. How can I get them dirty? 4My love thrust his hand through the opening, and my feelings were stirred for him. 5I rose to open for my love. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt. 6I opened to my love, but my love had turned and gone away. My heart sank because he had left. I sought him, but did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer. 7The guards who go about the city found me. They beat and wounded me; they took my cloak from me— the guardians of the walls. 8Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you, if you find my love, tell him that I am lovesick.
10My love is fit and strong, notable among ten thousand.
11His head is purest gold. His hair is wavy and black as a raven.
12His eyes are like doves beside flowing streams, washed in milk and set like jewels.
13His cheeks are like beds of spice, mounds of perfume. His lips are lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.
14His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is an ivory panel covered with lapis lazuli.
15His legs are alabaster pillars set on pedestals of pure gold. His presence is like Lebanon, as majestic as the cedars.
16His mouth is sweetness. He is absolutely desirable. This is my love, and this is my friend, young women of Jerusalem.
New Living Translation
Chapter 3
1One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover. I yearned for him, but he did not come. 2So I said to myself, 'I will get up and roam the city, searching in all its streets and squares. I will search for the one I love.' So I searched everywhere but did not find him. 3The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, 'Have you seen the one I love?' 4Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother’s house, into my mother’s bed, where I had been conceived.
6Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke? Who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense and every kind of spice?
7Look, it is Solomon’s carriage, surrounded by sixty heroic men, the best of Israel’s soldiers.
8They are all skilled swordsmen, experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack in the night.
9King Solomon’s carriage is built of wood imported from Lebanon.
10Its posts are silver, its canopy gold; its cushions are purple. It was decorated with love by the young women of Jerusalem.
Chapter 4
1You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. 2Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin. 3Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. 4Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes. 5Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies. 6Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. 7You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.
9You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace.
10Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices.
11Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Your clothes are scented like the cedars of Lebanon.
12You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.
13Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates with rare spices — henna with nard,
14nard and saffron, fragrant calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, and every other lovely spice.
15You are a garden fountain, a well of fresh water streaming down from Lebanon’s mountains.
4My lover tried to unlatch the door, and my heart thrilled within me.
5I jumped up to open the door for my love, and my hands dripped with perfume. My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh as I pulled back the bolt.
6I opened to my lover, but he was gone! My heart sank. I searched for him but could not find him anywhere. I called to him, but there was no reply.
7The night watchmen found me as they made their rounds. They beat and bruised me and stripped off my veil, those watchmen on the walls.
10My lover is dark and dazzling, better than ten thousand others!
11His head is finest gold, his wavy hair is black as a raven.
12His eyes sparkle like doves beside springs of water; they are set like jewels washed in milk.
13His cheeks are like gardens of spices giving off fragrance. His lips are like lilies, perfumed with myrrh.
14His arms are like rounded bars of gold, set with beryl. His body is like bright ivory, glowing with lapis lazuli.
15His legs are like marble pillars set in sockets of finest gold. His posture is stately, like the noble cedars of Lebanon.
16His mouth is sweetness itself; he is desirable in every way. Such, O women of Jerusalem, is my lover, my friend.
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
1On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. 2I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. 3 The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?" 4Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. 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 who conceived me. 5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 6 What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant? 7Behold, it is the litter of Solomon! Around it are sixty mighty men, some of the mighty men of Israel, 8all of them wearing swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against terror by night. 9King Solomon made himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon. 10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem. 11Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.Chapter 4
1Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. 3Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, built in rows of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. 5Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies. 6 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense. 7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. 9You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! 11Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. 12A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. 13Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, 14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices — 15a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon. 16Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.Chapter 5
1I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love! 2I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night." 3 I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them? 4My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me. 5I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. 6I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. 7 The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls. 8I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love. 9What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us? 10My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. 11His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven. 12His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting beside a full pool. 13His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh. 14His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires. 15His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. 16His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.New International Version
Chapter 3
1All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. 2I 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. 3The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. "Have you seen the one my heart loves?" 4Scarcely 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.
5Daughters 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.
6Who 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?
7Look! It is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel,
8all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.
9King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon.
10Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem,
11come 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.
Chapter 4
1How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead. 2Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone. 3Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. 4Your neck is like the tower of David, built with courses of stone ; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. 5Your breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies. 6Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
7You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
8Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of leopards.
9You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.
10How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!
11Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
13Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard,
14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
15You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.
16Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.
Chapter 5
1I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love. 2I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." 3I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again? 4My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. 5I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. 6I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. 7The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls! 8Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you— if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love. 9How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us? 10My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. 11His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. 12His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. 13His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. 14His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli. 15His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. 16His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.New King James Version
