^1. «IHAVE come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb [3] and my honey; I have drunk my wine [2] and my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and [1] imbibe deeply, O lovers.»

^2. « [6] 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 [5] drenched with dew, My locks with the [4] damp of the night.'

^3. «I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?

^4. «My beloved extended his hand through the opening, And my [7] feelings were aroused for him.

^5. «I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with [8] liquid myrrh, On the handles of the bolt.

^6. «I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and had gone! My [9] 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.

^7. «The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, They struck me and wounded me; The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.

^8. «I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick.»

^9. « [12] [11] What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? [10] What kind of beloved is your beloved, That thus you adjure us?»

^10. « [14] My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, [13] Outstanding among ten thousand.

^11. «His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven.

^12. «His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And [15] reposed in their setting.

^13. «His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet-scented herbs; His lips are lilies Dripping with liquid myrrh.

^14. «His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is carved ivory Inlaid with [16] sapphires.

^15. «His legs are pillars of alabaster Set on pedestals of pure gold; His appearance is like Lebanon Choice as the cedars.

^16. «His [17] mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.»