1‘All night long on my bed I searched for the one my heart loves. I looked for him but didn’t find him.2I will get up and go around in the city. I’ll look through all of its streets. I’ll search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but didn’t find him.3Those on guard duty found me as they were walking around in the city. “Have you seen the one my heart loves?” I asked.4As soon as I had passed by them I found the one my heart loves. I threw my arms around him and didn’t let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house. I took him to my mother’s room.5Women of Jerusalem, make me a promise. Let the antelopes and the does serve as witnesses. Don’t stir up love. Don’t wake it up until it’s ready.6‘Who is this man coming up from the desert like a column of smoke? He smells like myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the trader.7Look! There’s Solomon’s movable throne. Sixty soldiers accompany it. They have been chosen from the best warriors in Israel.8All of them are wearing swords. They have fought many battles. Each one has his sword at his side. Each is prepared for the terrors of the night.9King Solomon made the movable throne for himself. He made it out of wood from Lebanon.10He formed its posts out of silver. He made its base out of gold. Its seat was covered with purple cloth. It was decorated inside with love. Women of Jerusalem,11come out. ‘Look, you women of Zion. Look at King Solomon wearing his crown. His mother placed it on him. She did it on his wedding day. His heart was full of joy.’
Song of Solomon 3
English Standard Version
The Bride’s Dream
1On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. (So 1:7; So 5:6; Isa 26:9; Joh 7:34)2I will rise 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 found him not. (So 3:1; Jer 5:1)3The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” (So 5:7)4Scarcely had I passed 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, and into the chamber of her who conceived me. (Job 27:6; So 3:1; So 8:2; Ho 2:5)5I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. (So 1:5; So 2:7; So 2:9)
Solomon Arrives for the Wedding
6What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant? (Ex 13:21; So 4:6; So 4:14; So 6:10; So 8:5; Isa 60:8; Joe 2:30; Mt 2:11; Joh 19:39)7Behold, it is the litter[1] of Solomon! Around it are sixty mighty men, some of the mighty men of Israel, (2Sa 23:8; 1Ch 11:10; So 6:8)8all of them wearing swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against terror by night. (Ps 45:3; Ps 91:5)9King Solomon made himself a carriage[2] from the wood of Lebanon.10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem. (So 1:5)11Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart. (Isa 3:16; Isa 4:4; Isa 62:5)