Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
1I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved. | 1I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk! The Poet to the Couple: Eat, friends, and drink! Drink freely, O lovers! |
2I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved 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.” | 2I was asleep, but my mind was dreaming. Listen! My lover is knocking at the door! The Lover to His Beloved: "Open for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one! My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." |
3I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again? | 3"I have already taken off my robe--must I put it on again? I have already washed my feet--must I soil them again?" |
4My beloved put his hand to the latch; my heart pounded for him. | 4My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him. |
5I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt. | 5I arose to open for my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh--my fingers flowed with myrrh on the handles of the lock. |
6I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him, but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer. | 6I opened for my beloved, but my lover had already turned and gone away. I fell into despair when he departed. I looked for him but did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me. |
7I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city. They beat me and bruised me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls. | 7The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen on the walls! |
8O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love. | 8O maidens of Jerusalem, I command you--If you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him that I am lovesick! |
9How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so? | 9Why is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful of women? Why is your beloved better than others, that you would command us in this manner? |
10My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. | 10My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men. |
11His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. | 11His head is like the most pure gold. His hair is curly--black like a raven. |
12His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels. | 12His eyes are like doves by streams of water, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. |
13His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh. | 13His cheeks are like garden beds full of balsam trees yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with drops of myrrh. |
14His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is an ivory panel bedecked with sapphires. | 14His arms are like rods of gold set with chrysolite. His abdomen is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires. |
15His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, as majestic as the cedars. | 15His legs are like pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. |
16His mouth is most sweet; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. | 16His mouth is very sweet; he is totally desirable. This is my beloved! This is my companion, O maidens of Jerusalem! |
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