The Lover

1I’ve come into my garden, my sister, mya bride;

I’ve gathered my myrrh with my spices.

I’ve eaten my honeycomb with my honey.

I’ve drunk my wine with my milk.

Eat, friends!

Drink and become drunk with love.

The Loved One

2I was asleep, but my heart was awake.

There’s a sound! My beloved is knocking.

The Lover

“Open up for me, my sister, my darling,

my dove, my perfect one.

For my head is drenched with dew,

my hair with the dampness of the night.”

The Loved One

3“I’ve taken off my clothesb —

am I supposed to put them on again?c

I’ve washed my feet—

am I supposed tod get them dirty again?”

4My beloved reached out his hand for the latch.e

My feelings for him were aroused.

5I got up to open the door,f

and my hands dripped with myrrh,

my fingers with liquid myrrh,

on the handle of the lock.

6I opened the doorg for my beloved,

but my beloved had turned away; he was gone!

My very life went out when he departed.h

I searched for him,

but couldn’t find him.

I called out to him,

but he didn’t answer.

7The watchmen making theiri rounds

through the city found me.

They beat me, they bruised me.

Those guarding the walls took my cloakj from me.

8I charge you, young women of Jerusalem,

“If you find my beloved, what are you to tell him?

Tell himk that I’m weak with love.”

The Young Women

9What is so special about your beloved,l

most beautiful of women?

What is so special about your beloved,

that you charge us like this?

The Loved One

10My beloved is dazzling,

with a dark and healthy complexion,

outstanding among ten thousand.

11His head is pure gold,

his hair is wavy, black like a raven.

12His eyes are like doves

by streams of water,

bathed in milk,

mounted like jewels.

13His cheeks are like beds of spices,

like towers of perfume.

His lips are lilies,

dripping with liquid myrrh.

14His hands are rods of gold,

set with beryl.

His stomach is carved ivory,

inlaid with sapphires.m

15His legs are pillars of marble

set on bases of pure gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,

choice like its cedars.

16His mouthn is sweetness,

and all of him is desirable.

This is my beloved, this is my friend,

young women of Jerusalem!