Song of Solomon

¹ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Friends Eat, O friends, and drink; drink your fill, O lovers.

² I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

³ must I put it on again? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again?

⁴ my heart began to pound for him.

⁵ and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock.

⁶ but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.

⁷ as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls!

⁸ if you find my lover, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.

⁹ How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you charge us so?

¹⁰ My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

¹¹ his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

¹² by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels.

¹³ yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh.

¹⁴ set with chrysolite. His body is like polished ivory decorated with sapphires.

¹⁵ set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.

¹⁶ he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.