Song of Solomon 5:1–6:1

Young Man

¹I 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.

Young Women of Jerusalem

Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink!

Yes, drink deeply of your love!

Young Woman

²I 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.”

³But I responded,

“I have taken off my robe.

Should I get dressed again?

I have washed my feet.

Should I get them soiled?”

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.

⁸Make this promise, O women of Jerusalem—

If you find my lover,

tell him I am weak with love.

Young Women of Jerusalem

⁹Why is your lover better than all others,

O woman of rare beauty?

What makes your lover so special

that we must promise this?

Young Woman

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.

Chapter 6

Young Women of Jerusalem

¹Where has your lover gone,

O woman of rare beauty?

Which way did he turn

so we can help you find him?