The Song of Solomon

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

Nocturnal longing

On my bed by night, I sought him whom my soul has loved; I sought him, and I did not find him!

Now let me rise, and go around the city, || In the streets and in the broad places, || I seek him whom my soul has loved! I sought him, and I did not find him.

The watchmen have found me || (Who are going around the city), || “Have you seen him whom my soul has loved?”

But I passed on a little from them, || Until I found him whom my soul has loved! I seized him, and did not let him go, || Until I brought him to the house of my mother—And the chamber of her that conceived me.

I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, || By the roes or by the does of the field, || Do not stir up nor wake the love until she pleases!

The wedding procession

Who [is] this coming up from the wilderness, || Like palm-trees of smoke, || Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, || From every powder of the merchant?

Behold, his couch, that [is] of Solomon, || Sixty mighty ones [are] around it, || Of the mighty of Israel,

All of them holding sword, taught of battle, || Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.

A palanquin King Solomon made for himself, || Of the wood of Lebanon,

Its pillars he made of silver, || Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, || Its midst lined [with] love, || By the daughters of Jerusalem.

Go forth, and look, you daughters of Zion, || On King Solomon, with the crown, || With which his mother crowned him, || In the day of his espousals, || And in the day of the joy of his heart!

Nocturnal longing

By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.

I will get up now, and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.

The watchmen who go about the city found me; “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”

I had scarcely passed from them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, into the room of her who conceived me.

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up nor awaken love, until it so desires.

The wedding procession

Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.

King Solomon made himself a carriage of the wood of Lebanon.

He made its pillars of silver, its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.

Go out, you daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.