CHAPTER 3
1 In my little bed, I sought him by nights, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, and I found not. (In my little bed, night after night, I sought him, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I could not find him.)
2 I shall rise, and I shall compass the city, by little streets and large streets; I shall seek him, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, and I found not. (So I said, I shall arise, and I shall go about the city, by the little streets and the large streets; I shall seek him, whom my soul loveth; so I sought him, but I could not find him.)
3 (The) Watchmen, that keep the city, found me. (I asked), Whether ye saw him, whom my soul loveth? (But the watchmen, who guard the city, found me. And I asked them, Have ye seen him, whom my soul loveth?)
4 A little when I had passed them, I found him, whom my soul loveth, (or Then only a little while after that I had left them, I found him, whom my soul loveth); I held him, and I shall not leave him, till I bring him into the house of my mother, and into the (bed-)closet of my mother.
5 Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you greatly, by the caprets, and harts of fields, that ye raise not, neither make to awake the dearworthy spousess, till she will. (Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I strongly command you, by the gazelles, and the harts of the fields, that ye raise not up, nor awaken the dearworthy spousess, until she desireth it.)
6 Who is this woman, that goeth up by the desert, as a rod of smoke of sweet smelling spices, of myrrh, and of incense, and of all powder of an ointment maker? (Who is this woman, who goeth up by the desert, like a column of smoke of sweet smelling spices, yea, of myrrh, and of incense, and of all the powders of a perfume maker?)
7 Lo! sixty strong men of the strongest men of Israel compass the bed of Solomon; (Behold! sixty strong men of the strongest of Israel surround, (or protect), Solomon in his bed;)
8 and all they hold swords, and be most witting to battles; the sword of each man is on his hip, for the dread of nights. (and they all hold swords, and be most knowing about battle, or about fighting; the sword of each man is on his hip, ready for any attack in the night.)
9 King Solomon made to him a seat, of the wood of Lebanon; (King Solomon made for himself a throne out of the wood of Lebanon;)
10 he made the pillars thereof of silver; he made a golden resting place, a going up of purple; and he arrayed the middle things with charity, for the daughters of Jerusalem. (he covered its pillars, or its posts, with silver; and its golden seat had a purple cushion, lovingly woven by the daughters of Jerusalem.)
11 Ye daughters of Zion, go out, and see king Solomon in the diadem, with which his mother crowned him, in the day of his espousing, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. (Ye daughters of Zion, go out, and see King Solomon in his crown, with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his espousing, that is, on his wedding day, yea, on the day when his heart was happy, and full of joy.)