| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1I've come into my garden, my sister, my 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. | 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 was asleep, but my heart was awake. There's a sound! My beloved is knocking. "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." | 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." |
| 3"I've taken off my clothes — am I supposed to put them on again? I've washed my feet— am I supposed to get them dirty 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 reached out his hand for the latch. My feelings for him were aroused. | 4My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him. |
| 5I got up to open the door, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handle of the lock. | 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 the door for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away; he was gone! My very life went out when he departed. I searched for him, but couldn't find him. I called out to him, but he didn't 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. |
| 7The watchmen making their rounds through the city found me. They beat me, they bruised me. Those guarding the walls took my cloak from me. | 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! |
| 8I charge you, young women of Jerusalem, "If you find my beloved, what are you to tell him? Tell him that I'm weak 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! |
| 9What is so special about your beloved, most beautiful of women? What is so special about your beloved, that you charge us like this? | 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, with a dark and healthy complexion, outstanding among ten thousand. | 10My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men. |
| 11His head is pure gold, his hair is wavy, black like a raven. | 11His head is like the most pure gold. His hair is curly--black like a raven. |
| 12His eyes are like doves by streams of water, bathed in milk, mounted like jewels. | 12His eyes are like doves by streams of water, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. |
| 13His cheeks are like beds of spices, like towers of perfume. His lips are lilies, dripping with liquid myrrh. | 13His cheeks are like garden beds full of balsam trees yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with drops of myrrh. |
| 14His hands are rods of gold, set with beryl. His stomach is carved ivory, inlaid 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, choice like its 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 sweetness, and all of him is desirable. This is my beloved, this is my friend, young women 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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