The Torment of Separation

[a]I have (A)come into my garden, (B)my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my (C)myrrh along with my balsam.
I have eaten my honeycomb [b]and my (D)honey;
I have (E)drunk my wine [c]and my milk.
Eat, (F)friends;
Drink and [d]imbibe deeply, O lovers.”

[e]I was asleep but my heart was awake.
A voice! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, (G)my sister, my darling,
(H)My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is [f]drenched with dew,
My (I)locks with the [g]damp of the night.’
“I have (J)taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I have (K)washed my feet,
How can I dirty them again?
“My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
And my [h](L)feelings were aroused for him.
“I arose to open to my beloved;
And my hands (M)dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with [i]liquid myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
“I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had (N)turned away and had gone!
My [j]heart went out to him as he (O)spoke.
I (P)searched for him but I did not find him;
I (Q)called him but he did not answer me.
“The (R)watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
They struck me and wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.
“I (S)adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you will tell him:
For (T)I am lovesick.”

[k][l]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
O (U)most beautiful among women?
[m]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
That thus you adjure us?”

Admiration by the Bride

10 [n]My beloved is dazzling and (V)ruddy,
[o](W)Outstanding among ten thousand.
11 “His head is like gold, pure gold;
His (X)locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.
12 “His (Y)eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk,
And [p]reposed in their (Z)setting.
13 “His cheeks are like a (AA)bed of balsam,
Banks of sweet-scented herbs;
His lips are (AB)lilies
(AC)Dripping with liquid myrrh.
14 “His hands are rods of gold
Set with (AD)beryl;
His abdomen is carved ivory
Inlaid with [q](AE)sapphires.
15 “His legs are pillars of alabaster
Set on pedestals of pure gold;
His appearance is like (AF)Lebanon
Choice as the (AG)cedars.
16 “His [r](AH)mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly (AI)desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 5:1 BRIDEGROOM
  2. Song of Solomon 5:1 Lit with
  3. Song of Solomon 5:1 Lit with
  4. Song of Solomon 5:1 Or become drunk
  5. Song of Solomon 5:2 BRIDE
  6. Song of Solomon 5:2 Lit filled
  7. Song of Solomon 5:2 Lit drops
  8. Song of Solomon 5:4 Lit bowels
  9. Song of Solomon 5:5 Lit passing
  10. Song of Solomon 5:6 Lit soul
  11. Song of Solomon 5:9 CHORUS
  12. Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
  13. Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
  14. Song of Solomon 5:10 BRIDE
  15. Song of Solomon 5:10 Lit Lifted up banner
  16. Song of Solomon 5:12 Lit sitting upon
  17. Song of Solomon 5:14 Lit lapis lazuli
  18. Song of Solomon 5:16 Lit palate

He

I have come into my garden,(A) my sister, my bride;(B)
    I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
    I have drunk my wine and my milk.(C)

Friends

Eat, friends, and drink;
    drink your fill of love.

She

I slept but my heart was awake.
    Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
    my dove,(D) my flawless(E) one.(F)
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night.”
I have taken off my robe—
    must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
    must I soil them again?
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
    my heart began to pound for him.
I arose to open for my beloved,
    and my hands dripped with myrrh,(G)
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
    on the handles of the bolt.
I opened for my beloved,(H)
    but my beloved had left; he was gone.(I)
    My heart sank at his departure.[a]
I looked(J) for him but did not find him.
    I called him but he did not answer.
The watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds in the city.(K)
They beat me, they bruised me;
    they took away my cloak,
    those watchmen of the walls!
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you(L)
    if you find my beloved,(M)
what will you tell him?
    Tell him I am faint with love.(N)

Friends

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

She

10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,
    outstanding among ten thousand.(P)
11 His head is purest gold;
    his hair is wavy
    and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves(Q)
    by the water streams,
washed in milk,(R)
    mounted like jewels.
13 His cheeks(S) are like beds of spice(T)
    yielding perfume.
His lips are like lilies(U)
    dripping with myrrh.(V)
14 His arms are rods of gold
    set with topaz.
His body is like polished ivory
    decorated with lapis lazuli.(W)
15 His legs are pillars of marble
    set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,(X)
    choice as its cedars.
16 His mouth(Y) is sweetness itself;
    he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,(Z) this is my friend,
    daughters of Jerusalem.(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 5:6 Or heart had gone out to him when he spoke