^1. «ON my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him.

^2. " [3] I must arise now and [2] go about the city; In the streets and in the squares [1] I must seek him whom my soul loves.' I sought him but did not find him.

^3. « The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?'

^4. « Scarcely had I [4] 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. « [6] I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, That you will not arouse or awaken my love Until [5] she pleases.»

^6. « [8] [7] What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all scented powders of the merchant?

^7. «Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men of Israel.

^8. «All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, Guarding against the [9] terrors of the night.

^9. «King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon.

^10. «He made its posts of silver, Its [10] back of gold And its seat of purple fabric, With its interior lovingly fitted out By the daughters of Jerusalem.

^11. «Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the [11] crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart.»