Song of Solomon 3

1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

4It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

5I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

6Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

7Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

8They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

9King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.footnote a

10He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

11Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

The Bride’s Dream

1On my bed at nightI sought the one I love;I sought him,but did not find him. 2I will arise now and go about the city,through the streets and squares.I will seek the one I love.So I sought him but did not find him.

3I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city:“Have you seen the one I love?” 4I had just passed them when I found the one I love.I held him and would not let gountil I had brought him to my mother’s house,to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

5O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure youby the gazelles and does of the field:Do not arouse or awaken loveuntil the time is right.

Solomon Arrives on His Wedding Day

6Who is this coming up from the wildernesslike a column of smoke,scented with myrrh and frankincensefrom all the spices of the merchant? 7Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage,footnote aescorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel. 8All are skilled with the sword,experienced in warfare.Each has his sword at his sideprepared for the terror of the night.

9King Solomon has made his carriageout of the timber of Lebanon. 10He has made its posts of silver,its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric.Its interior is inlaid with loveby the daughters of Jerusalem.

11Come out, O daughters of Zion,and gaze at King Solomon,wearing the crown with which his mother crowned himon the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing.