from Biblica1All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him.2I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him.3The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. ‘Have you seen the one my heart loves?’4Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived me.5Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?7Look! It is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel,8all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.9King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon.10Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem,11come out, and look, you daughters of Zion. Look[1] on King Solomon wearing a crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced.
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)