1 The Bride Searches for Her Beloved “ 5:1BRIDEGROOM I have come into my garden, my sister,mybride;I have picked my myrrh along with my balsam.I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;I have drunk my wine with my milk.Eat, friends;Drink and 5:1Or become drunk imbibe deeply, O lovers.”
2 ¶“ 5:2BRIDE I was asleep, but my heart was awake.A voice! My beloved was knocking:‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,My dove, my perfect one!For my head is full of dew,My locks with the 5:2Lit drops damp of the night.’
3 “I have taken off my long-sleeved garment,How can I put it onagain?I have washed my feet,How can I dirty themagain?
4 “My beloved sent forth his hand through the opening,And my 5:4Lit bowels feelings moaned for him.
5 “I arose to open to my beloved;And my hands dripped with myrrh,And my fingers with 5:5 Lit passing liquid myrrh,On the handles of the lock.
6 “I opened to my beloved,But my beloved had turned awayandpassed by!My soul went outto himas he spoke.I searched for him, but I did not find him;I called him, but he did not answer me.
7 “The watchmen who go about in the city found me,They struck meandwounded me;The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.
8 “I call you tosolemnlyswear, O daughters of Jerusalem,If you find my beloved,What will you tell him?Tell himthat I am sick with love.”
9 ¶“ 5:9CHORUS What is your belovedthat he ismore thanany otherbeloved,O most beautiful among women?What is your belovedthat he ismore thanany otherbeloved,That thus you call us tosolemnlyswear?”The Bride Extols Her Beloved
10 ¶“ 5:10 BRIDE My beloved is dazzling and ruddy,Lifted up as a banner among ten thousand.
11 “His head islikegold, fine gold;His locks arelikeclusters of datesAndblack as a raven.
12 “His eyes are like dovesBeside streams of water,Washed in milk,Andsitting intheirsetting.
13 “His cheeks are like a bed of spices,Towers of sweet-scented herbs;His lips are liliesDripping with liquid myrrh.
14 “His hands are rods of goldSet with beryl;His abdomen is a plate of ivoryInlaid with 5:14Lit lapis lazuli sapphires.
15 “His legs are pillars of marbleSet on bases of fine gold;His appearance is like LebanonChoice as the cedars.
16 “His 5:16Lit palate mouth isfull ofsweetness.And he is wholly desirable.This is my beloved and this is my friend,O daughters of Jerusalem.”