Song of Solomon 3

3In my bed at night^E

I sought the one I love;^u

I sought him, but did not find him.^Fv

²I will arise now and go about the city,

through the streets and the plazas.^w

I will seek the one I love.

I sought him, but did not find him.

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

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^y—

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.^Gz

Narrator

⁶Who is this^aa coming up from the wilderness

like columns of smoke,

scented with myrrh and frankincense^ab

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^ac

to guard against the terror of the night.^ad

⁹King Solomon made a carriage for himself

with wood from Lebanon.

¹⁰He made its posts of silver,

its back^H of gold,

and its seat of purple.

Its interior is inlaid with love^A

by the young women of Jerusalem.^a

¹¹Go out, young women of Zion,^b

and gaze at King Solomon,

wearing the crown his mother placed on him

on the day of his wedding^c—

the day of his heart’s rejoicing.