1 I 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.

2 I 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.”

3 I have taken off my robe—

must I put it on again?

I have washed my feet—

must I soil them again?

4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;

my heart began to pound for him.

5 I arose to open for my beloved,

and my hands dripped with myrrh,

my fingers with flowing myrrh,

on the handles of the bolt.

6 I 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.

7 The 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!

8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—

if you find my beloved,

what will you tell him?

Tell him I am faint with love.

9 How is your beloved better than others,

most beautiful of women?

How is your beloved better than others,

that you so charge us?

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,

outstanding among ten thousand.

11 His head is purest gold;

his hair is wavy

and black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

by the water streams,

washed in milk,

mounted like jewels.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spice

yielding perfume.

His lips are like lilies

dripping with myrrh.

14 His arms are rods of gold

set with topaz.

His body is like polished ivory

decorated with lapis lazuli.

15 His legs are pillars of marble

set on bases of pure gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,

choice as its cedars.

16 His mouth is sweetness itself;

he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved, this is my friend,

daughters of Jerusalem.

1 I 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!

2 I 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?

4 My beloved put his hand to the latch,

and my heart was thrilled within me.

5 I arose to open to my beloved,

and my hands dripped with myrrh,

my fingers with liquid myrrh,

on the handles of the bolt.

6 I 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.

8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

if you find my beloved,

that you tell him

I am sick with love.

9 What 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?

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,

distinguished among ten thousand.

11 His head is the finest gold;

his locks are wavy,

black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

beside streams of water,

bathed in milk,

sitting beside a full pool.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spices,

mounds of sweet-smelling herbs.

His lips are lilies,

dripping liquid myrrh.

14 His arms are rods of gold,

set with jewels.

His body is polished ivory,

bedecked with sapphires.

15 His legs are alabaster columns,

set on bases of gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,

choice as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet,

and he is altogether desirable.

This is my beloved and this is my friend,

O daughters of Jerusalem.

1 I 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.

2 I 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.

3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on?

I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door,

And my bowels were moved for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved;

And my hands dropped with myrrh,

And my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh,

Upon the handles of the lock.

6 I opened to my beloved;

But my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone:

My soul failed when he spake:

I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 The 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.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

If ye find my beloved, that ye tell him,

That I am sick of love.

9 What 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?

10 My beloved is white and ruddy,

The chiefest among ten thousand.

11 His head is as the most fine gold,

His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters,

Washed with milk, and fitly set.

13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers:

His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl:

His belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold:

His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

1 I have entered my garden, my treasure, my bride!

I gather myrrh with my spices

and eat honeycomb with my honey.

I drink wine with my milk.

Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink!

Yes, drink deeply of your love!

2 I slept, but my heart was awake,

when I heard my lover knocking and calling:

“Open to me, my treasure, my darling,

my dove, my perfect one.

My head is drenched with dew,

my hair with the dampness of the night.”

3 But I responded,

“I have taken off my robe.

Should I get dressed again?

I have washed my feet.

Should I get them soiled?”

4 My lover tried to unlatch the door,

and my heart thrilled within me.

5 I 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.

6 I 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.

7 The night watchmen found me

as they made their rounds.

They beat and bruised me

and stripped off my veil,

those watchmen on the walls.

8 Make this promise, O women of Jerusalem—

If you find my lover,

tell him I am weak with love.

9 Why is your lover better than all others,

O woman of rare beauty?

What makes your lover so special

that we must promise this?

10 My lover is dark and dazzling,

better than ten thousand others!

11 His head is finest gold,

his wavy hair is black as a raven.

12 His eyes sparkle like doves

beside springs of water;

they are set like jewels

washed in milk.

13 His cheeks are like gardens of spices

giving off fragrance.

His lips are like lilies,

perfumed with myrrh.

14 His arms are like rounded bars of gold,

set with beryl.

His body is like bright ivory,

glowing with lapis lazuli.

15 His legs are like marble pillars

set in sockets of finest gold.

His posture is stately,

like the noble cedars of Lebanon.

16 His mouth is sweetness itself;

he is desirable in every way.

Such, O women of Jerusalem,

is my lover, my friend.

1 I have come to 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, yes, drink deeply,

O beloved ones!

2 I sleep, but my heart is awake;

It is the voice of my beloved!

He knocks, saying,

“Open for me, my sister, my love,

My dove, my perfect one;

For my head is covered with dew,

My locks with the drops of the night.”

3 I have taken off my robe;

How can I put it on again?

I have washed my feet;

How can I defile them?

4 My beloved put his hand

By the latch of the door,

And my heart yearned for him.

5 I arose to open for my beloved,

And my hands dripped with myrrh,

My fingers with liquid myrrh,

On the handles of the lock.

6 I opened for my beloved,

But my beloved had turned away and was gone.

My heart leaped up when he spoke.

I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 The watchmen who went about the city found me.

They struck me, they wounded me;

The keepers of the walls

Took my veil away from me.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

If you find my beloved,

That you tell him I am lovesick!

9 What is your beloved

More than another beloved,

O fairest among women?

What is your beloved

More than another beloved,

That you so charge us?

10 My beloved is white and ruddy,

Chief among ten thousand.

11 His head is like the finest gold;

His locks are wavy,

And black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

By the rivers of waters,

Washed with milk,

And fitly set.

13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices,

Banks of scented herbs.

His lips are lilies,

Dripping liquid myrrh.

14 His hands are rods of gold

Set with beryl.

His body is carved ivory

Inlaid with sapphires.

15 His legs are pillars of marble

Set on bases of fine gold.

His countenance is like Lebanon,

Excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet,

Yes, he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved,

And this is my friend,

O daughters of Jerusalem!

1 I have entered 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;

yes, drink deeply, lovers.

2 I sleep, but my heart is awake.

I hear my lover knocking.

“Open to me, my sister, my darling,

my dove, my perfect one.

My head is wet with dew,

and my hair with the dampness of the night.”

3 I have taken off my garment

and don’t want to put it on again.

I have washed my feet

and don’t want to get them dirty again.

4 My lover put his hand through the opening,

and I felt excited inside.

5 I got up to open the door for my lover.

Myrrh was dripping from my hands

and flowing from my fingers,

onto the handles of the lock.

6 I opened the door for my lover,

but my lover had left and was gone.

When he spoke, he took my breath away.

I looked for him, but I could not find him;

I called for him, but he did not answer.

7 The watchmen found me

as they patrolled the city.

They hit me and hurt me;

the guards on the wall took away my veil.

8 Promise me, women of Jerusalem,

if you find my lover,

tell him I am weak with love.

9 How is your lover better than other lovers,

most beautiful of women?

How is your lover better than other lovers?

Why do you want us to promise this?

10 My lover is healthy and tan,

the best of ten thousand men.

11 His head is like the finest gold;

his hair is wavy and black like a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

by springs of water.

They seem to be bathed in cream

and are set like jewels.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spices;

they smell like mounds of perfume.

His lips are like lilies

flowing with myrrh.

14 His hands are like gold hinges,

filled with jewels.

His body is like shiny ivory

covered with sapphires.

15 His legs are like large marble posts,

standing on bases of fine gold.

He is like a cedar of Lebanon,

like the finest of the trees.

16 His mouth is sweet to kiss,

and I desire him very much.

Yes, daughters of Jerusalem,

this is my lover

and my friend.

1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride:

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.

2 I was asleep, but my heart waked:

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,

My locks with the drops of the night.

3 I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on?

I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door,

And my heart was moved for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved;

And my hands dropped with myrrh,

And my fingers with liquid myrrh,

Upon the handles of the bolt.

6 I opened to my beloved;

But my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone.

My soul had failed me when he spake:

I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 The watchmen that go about the city found me,

They smote me, they wounded me;

The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.

8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

If ye find my beloved,

That ye tell him, that I am sick from love.

9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved,

O thou fairest among women?

What is thy beloved more than another beloved,

That thou dost so adjure us?

10 My beloved is white and ruddy,

The chiefest among ten thousand.

11 His head is as the most fine gold;

His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks,

Washed with milk, and fitly set.

13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices,

As banks of sweet herbs:

His lips are as lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

14 His hands are as rings of gold set with beryl:

His body is as ivory work overlaid with sapphires.

15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold:

His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet;

Yea, he is altogether lovely.

This is my beloved, and this is my friend,

O daughters of Jerusalem.

1 I 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, beloved ones!

2 I slept, but my heart was awake. The voice of my beloved! he knocketh: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, mine undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night. 3 —I have put off my tunic, how should I put it on? I have washed my feet, how should I pollute them? — 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door; And my bowels yearned for him. 5 I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the lock. 6 I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had withdrawn himself; he was gone: My soul went forth when he spoke. I sought him, but I found him not; I called him, but he gave me no answer. 7 The 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. 8 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, …What will ye tell him? —That I am sick of love.

9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, Thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, That thou dost so charge us? 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand. 11 His head is as the finest gold; His locks are flowing, black as the raven; 12 His eyes are like doves by the water-brooks, Washed with milk, fitly set; 13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, raised beds of sweet plants; His lips lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. 14 His hands gold rings, set with the chrysolite; His belly is bright ivory, overlaid with sapphires; 15 His legs, pillars of marble, set upon bases of fine gold: His bearing as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars; 16 His mouth is most sweet: Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, yea, this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

1 My bride, my sister, I will come to my garden. 

I will gather my myrrh with my spice. 

I will eat my honeycomb with my honey. 

I will drink my wine with my milk. 

Eat, my friends! 

Drink and become intoxicated with expressions of love! 

2 I sleep, but my mind is awake. 

Listen! My beloved is knocking. 

Open to me, my true love, my sister, 

my dove, my perfect one. 

My head is wet with dew, 

my hair with the dewdrops of night. 

3 I have taken off my clothes! Why should I put them on ⸤again⸥? 

I have washed my feet! Why should I get them dirty ⸤again⸥? 

4 My beloved put his hand through the keyhole. 

My heart throbbed for him. 

5 I got up to open for my beloved. 

My hands dripped with myrrh, 

and my fingers were drenched with liquid myrrh, 

on the handles of the lock. 

6 I opened for my beloved, 

but my beloved had turned away. He was gone! 

I almost died when he left. 

I looked for him, but I did not find him. 

I called for him, but he did not answer me. 

7 The watchmen making their rounds in the city found me. 

They struck me! 

They wounded me! 

Those watchmen on the walls took my robe from me! 

8 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me 

that if you find my beloved 

you will tell him I am hopelessly lovesick. 

9 Most beautiful of women, 

what makes your beloved better than any other beloved? 

What makes your beloved better than any other beloved 

that you make us swear this way? 

10 My beloved is dazzling yet ruddy. 

He stands out among 10,000 men. 

11 His head is the finest gold. 

His hair is wavy, black as a raven. 

12 His eyes are set like doves bathing in milk. 

13 His cheeks are like a garden of spices, 

a garden that produces scented herbs. 

His lips are lilies that drip with myrrh. 

14 His hands are disks of gold set with emerald. 

His chest is a block of ivory covered with sapphires. 

15 His legs are columns of marble set on bases of pure gold. 

His form is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. 

16 His mouth is sweet in every way. 

Everything about him is desirable! 

This is my beloved, and this is my friend, young women of Jerusalem. 

1 I 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 love!

2 I sleep, but my heart is awake.

A sound! My love is 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.

3 I have taken off my clothing.

How can I put it back on?

I have washed my feet.

How can I get them dirty?

4 My love thrust his hand through the opening,

and my feelings were stirred for him.

5 I rose to open for my love.

My hands dripped with myrrh,

my fingers with flowing myrrh

on the handles of the bolt.

6 I opened to my love,

but my love had turned and gone away.

I was crushed that he had left.

I sought him, but did not find him.

I called him, but he did not answer.

7 The guards who go about the city found me.

They beat and wounded me;

they took my cloak from me—

the guardians of the walls.

8 Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you:

if you find my love,

tell him that I am lovesick.

9 What makes the one you love better than another,

most beautiful of women?

What makes him better than another,

that you would give us this charge?

10 My love is fit and strong,

notable among ten thousand.

11 His head is purest gold.

His hair is wavy

and black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

beside streams of water,

washed in milk

and set like jewels.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spice,

towers of perfume.

His lips are lilies,

dripping with flowing myrrh.

14 His arms are rods of gold

set with topaz.

His body is an ivory panel

covered with sapphires.

15 His legs are alabaster pillars

set on pedestals of pure gold.

His presence is like Lebanon,

as majestic as the cedars.

16 His mouth is sweetness.

He is absolutely desirable.

This is my love, and this is my friend,

young women of Jerusalem.

1 I come to my garden, my sister, my bride;

I gather my myrrh with my spice,

I eat my honeycomb with my honey,

I drink my wine with my milk.

Eat, friends, drink,

and be drunk with love.

2 I slept, but my heart was awake.

Listen! 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 again?

I had bathed my feet;

how could I soil them?

4 My beloved thrust his hand into the opening,

and my inmost being yearned for him.

5 I arose to open to my beloved,

and my hands dripped with myrrh,

my fingers with liquid myrrh,

upon the handles of the bolt.

6 I opened to my beloved,

but my beloved had turned and was gone.

My soul failed me when he spoke.

I sought him, but did not find him;

I called him, but he gave no answer.

7 Making their rounds in the city

the sentinels found me;

they beat me, they wounded me,

they took away my mantle,

those sentinels of the walls.

8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

if you find my beloved,

tell him this:

I am faint with love.

9 What is your beloved more than another beloved,

O fairest among women?

What is your beloved more than another beloved,

that you thus adjure us?

10 My beloved is all radiant and ruddy,

distinguished among ten thousand.

11 His head is the finest gold;

his locks are wavy,

black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

beside springs of water,

bathed in milk,

fitly set.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spices,

yielding fragrance.

His lips are lilies,

distilling liquid myrrh.

14 His arms are rounded gold,

set with jewels.

His body is ivory work,

encrusted with sapphires.

15 His legs are alabaster columns,

set upon bases of gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,

choice as the cedars.

16 His speech is most sweet,

and he is altogether desirable.

This is my beloved and this is my friend,

O daughters of Jerusalem.

1 I have come to my garden, my sister bride,

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 and become drunk with love!

2 I was asleep but my heart was awake.

A sound! My beloved knocking!

“Open to me, my sister, my beloved,

my dove, my perfect one!

For my head is full of dew,

my hair drenched from the moist night air.”

3 I have taken off my tunic, must I put it on?

I have bathed my feet, must I soil them?

4 My beloved thrust his hand into the opening,

and my inmost yearned for him.

5 I myself arose to open to my beloved;

my hands dripped with myrrh,

my fingers with liquid myrrh

upon the handles of the bolt.

6 I opened myself to my beloved,

but my beloved had turned and gone;

my heart sank when he turned away.

I sought him, but I did not find him;

I called him, but he did not answer me.

7 The sentinels making rounds in the city found me;

they beat me, they wounded me;

they took my cloak away from me—

those sentinels on the walls!

8 I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem,

if you find my beloved, what will you tell him?

Tell him that I am lovesick!

9 How is your beloved better than another lover,

O most beautiful among women?

How is your beloved better than another lover,

that you adjure us thus?

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,

distinguished among ten thousand.

11 His head is gold, refined gold;

his locks are wavy, black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves beside springs of water,

bathed in milk, set like mounted jewels.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spice, a tower of fragrances;

his lips are lilies dripping liquid myrrh.

14 His arms are rods of gold engraved with jewels;

his belly is polished ivory covered with sapphires.

15 His legs are columns of alabaster, set on bases of gold;

his appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.

16 His mouth is sweet,

and he is altogether desirable.

This is my beloved;

this is my friend, O young women of Jerusalem.

1 The king says,

“My bride, I have come into my garden.

My sister, I’ve gathered my myrrh and my spice.

I’ve eaten my honeycomb and my honey.

I’ve drunk my wine and my milk.”

The other women say to the Shulammite woman and to Solomon,

“Friends, eat and drink.

Lovers, drink all you want.”

The woman says,

2 “I slept, but my heart was awake.

Listen! The one who loves me is knocking.

He says, ‘My sister, I love you.

Open up so I can come in.

You are my dove.

You are perfect in every way.

My head is soaked with dew.

The night air has made my hair wet.’

3 “But I’ve taken my robe off.

Must I put it on again?

I’ve washed my feet.

Must I get them dirty again?

4 My love put his hand through the opening.

My heart began to pound for him.

5 I got up to open the door for my love.

My hands dripped with myrrh.

It flowed from my fingers

onto the handles of the lock.

6 I opened the door for my love.

But he had left. He was gone.

My heart sank because he had left.

I looked for him but didn’t find him.

I called out to him, but he didn’t answer.

7 Those on guard duty found me

as they were walking around in the city.

They beat me. They hurt me.

Those on guard duty at the walls

took my coat away from me.

8 Women of Jerusalem, take an oath and make me a promise.

If you find the one who loves me,

tell him our love has made me weak.”

The other women say,

9 “You are the most beautiful woman of all.

How is the one you love better than others?

How is he better than anyone else?

Why do you ask us to make you a promise?”

The woman says,

10 “The one who loves me is tanned and handsome.

He’s the finest man among 10,000.

11 His head is like the purest gold.

His hair is wavy and as black as a raven.

12 His eyes are like doves

by streams of water.

They look as if they’ve been washed in milk.

They are set like jewels in his head.

13 His cheeks are like beds of spice

that give off perfume.

His lips are like lilies

that drip with myrrh.

14 His arms are like gold

that are set with chrysolite.

His body is like polished ivory

that is decorated with sapphires.

15 His legs are like pillars of marble

that are set on bases of pure gold.

He looks like the finest cedar tree

in the mountains of Lebanon.

16 His mouth is very sweet.

Everything about him is delightful.

That’s what the one who loves me is like.

That’s what my friend is like, women of Jerusalem.”