Song of Solomon

¹ I longed for my lover. I wanted him desperately. His absence was painful.

² hunting through streets and down alleys. I wanted my lover in the worst way! I looked high and low, and didn't find him.

³ as they patrolled the darkened city. "Have you seen my dear lost love?" I asked.

⁴ found my dear lost love. I threw my arms around him and held him tight, wouldn't let him go until I had him home again, safe at home beside the fire.

⁵ by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you're ready.

⁶ raising clouds of dust, Filling the air with sweet smells and pungent aromatics?

⁷ carried and guarded by sixty soldiers, sixty of Israel's finest,

⁸ trained for battle, ready for anything, anytime.

⁹ from fine-grained Lebanon cedar.

¹⁰ The cushions were covered with a purple fabric, the interior lined with tooled leather.

¹¹ Oh, sisters of Zion, don't miss this! My King-Lover, dressed and garlanded for his wedding, his heart full, bursting with joy!