Song of Solomon 2:18-4:16

Other Translations of Song of Solomon 2:18-4:16

King James Version

The Bride's Reverie

3¹ By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. ² I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. ³ The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? ⁴ It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. ⁵ I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

The Wedding Procession

⁶ Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

⁷ Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. ⁸ They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. ⁹ King Solomon made himself a chariot a chariot: or, a bed of the wood of Lebanon. ¹⁰ He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. ¹¹ Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

The Bridegroom Praises the Bride

4¹ Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. ² Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. ³ Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. ⁴ Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. ⁵ Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. ⁶ Until the day break, break: Heb. breathe and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. ⁷ Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. ⁹ Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. ¹⁰ How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! ¹¹ Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. ¹² A garden inclosed inclosed: Heb. barred is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. ¹³ Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, camphire: or, cypress with spikenard, ¹⁴ Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

¹⁵ A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. ¹⁶ Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

English Standard Version

The Bride's Reverie

3¹ On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. ² I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. ³ The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?" ⁴ Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me. ⁵ I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

The Wedding Procession

⁶ What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?

⁷ Behold, it is the litterThat is, the couch on which servants carry a king of Solomon! Around it are sixty mighty men, some of the mighty men of Israel, ⁸ all of them wearing swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against terror by night. ⁹ King Solomon made himself a carriageOr sedan chair from the wood of Lebanon. ¹⁰ He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem. ¹¹ Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.

The Bridegroom Praises the Bride

4¹ Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. ² Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost its young. ³ Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. ⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David, built in rows of stone;The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors. ⁵ Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lilies. ⁶ Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense. ⁷ You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. DepartOr Look from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. ⁹ You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. ¹⁰ How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! ¹¹ Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. ¹² A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. ¹³ Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, ¹⁴ nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices--

¹⁵ a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon. ¹⁶ Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.

The Message

The Bride's Reverie

3¹ Restless in bed and sleepless through the night, I longed for my lover. I wanted him desperately. His absence was painful. ² So I got up, went out and roved the city, hunting through streets and down alleys. I wanted my lover in the worst way! I looked high and low, and didn't find him. ³ And then the night watchmen found me as they patrolled the darkened city. "Have you seen my dear lost love?" I asked. ⁴ No sooner had I left them than I found him, found my dear lost love. I threw my arms around him and held him tight, wouldn't let him go until I had him home again, safe at home beside the fire. ⁵ Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe - and you're ready.

The Wedding Procession

⁶ What's this I see, approaching from the desert, raising clouds of dust, Filling the air with sweet smells and pungent aromatics?

⁷ Look! It's Solomon's carriage, carried and guarded by sixty soldiers, sixty of Israel's finest, ⁸ All of them armed to the teeth, trained for battle, ready for anything, anytime. ⁹ King Solomon once had a carriage built from fine-grained Lebanon cedar. ¹⁰ He had it framed with silver and roofed with gold. The cushions were covered with a purple fabric, the interior lined with tooled leather. ¹¹ Come and look, sisters in Jerusalem. Oh, sisters of Zion, don't miss this! My King-Lover, dressed and garlanded for his wedding, his heart full, bursting with joy!

The Bridegroom Praises the Bride

4¹ You're so beautiful, my darling, so beautiful, and your dove eyes are veiled By your hair as it flows and shimmers, like a flock of goats in the distance streaming down a hillside in the sunshine. ² Your smile is generous and full - expressive and strong and clean. ³ Your lips are jewel red, your mouth elegant and inviting, your veiled cheeks soft and radiant. ⁴ The smooth, lithe lines of your neck command notice - all heads turn in awe and admiration! ⁵ Your breasts are like fawns, twins of a gazelle, grazing among the first spring flowers. ⁶ The sweet, fragrant curves of your body, the soft, spiced contours of your flesh Invite me, and I come. I stay until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. ⁷ You're beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.

⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. Leave Lebanon behind, and come. Leave your high mountain hideaway. Abandon your wilderness seclusion, Where you keep company with lions and panthers guard your safety. ⁹ You've captured my heart, dear friend. You looked at me, and I fell in love. One look my way and I was hopelessly in love! ¹⁰ How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend - far more pleasing than a fine, rare wine, your fragrance more exotic than select spices. ¹¹ The kisses of your lips are honey, my love, every syllable you speak a delicacy to savor. Your clothes smell like the wild outdoors, the ozone scent of high mountains. ¹² Dear lover and friend, you're a secret garden, a private and pure fountain. ¹³ Body and soul, you are paradise, a whole orchard of succulent fruits - Ripe apricots and peaches, oranges and pears; Nut trees and cinnamon, and all scented woods; ¹⁴ Mint and lavender, and all herbs aromatic;

¹⁵ A garden fountain, sparkling and splashing, fed by spring waters from the Lebanon mountains. ¹⁶ Wake up, North Wind, get moving, South Wind! Breathe on my garden, fill the air with spice fragrance. Oh, let my lover enter his garden! Yes, let him eat the fine, ripe fruits.

New King James Version

The Bride's Reverie

3¹ The Shulamite By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. ² "I will rise now," I said, "And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." I sought him, but I did not find him. ³ The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, "Have you seen the one I love?" ⁴ Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. ⁵ I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

The Wedding Procession

⁶ The Shulamite Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant's fragrant powders?

⁷ Behold, it is Solomon's couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. ⁸ They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night. ⁹ Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin: ¹⁰ He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem. ¹¹ Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.

The Bridegroom Praises the Bride

4¹ The Beloved Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove's eyes behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, Going down from Mount Gilead. ² Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep Which have come up from the washing, Every one of which bears twins, And none is barren among them. ³ Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate. ⁴ Your neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, On which hang a thousand bucklers, All shields of mighty men. ⁵ Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies. ⁶ Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense. ⁷ You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you.

⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, With me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions' dens, From the mountains of the leopards. ⁹ You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart With one look of your eyes, With one link of your necklace. ¹⁰ How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices! ¹¹ Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; And the fragrance of your garments Is like the fragrance of Lebanon. ¹² A garden enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, A spring shut up, A fountain sealed. ¹³ Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates With pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard, ¹⁴ Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, With all the chief spices--

¹⁵ A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And streams from Lebanon. ¹⁶ The Shulamite Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits.

New Living Translation

The Bride's Reverie

3¹ One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover. I yearned for him, but he did not come. ² So I said to myself, "I will get up and roam the city, searching in all its streets and squares. I will search for the one I love." So I searched everywhere but did not find him. ³ The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, "Have you seen the one I love?" ⁴ Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother's house, into my mother's bed, where I had been conceived. ⁵ Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.

The Wedding Procession

⁶ Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke? Who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense and every kind of spice?

⁷ Look, it is Solomon's carriage, surrounded by sixty heroic men, the best of Israel's soldiers. ⁸ They are all skilled swordsmen, experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack in the night. ⁹ King Solomon's carriage is built of wood imported from Lebanon. ¹⁰ Its posts are silver, its canopy gold; its cushions are purple. It was decorated with love by the young women of Jerusalem. ¹¹ Come out to see King Solomon, young women of Jerusalem. He wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day, his most joyous day.

The Bridegroom Praises the Bride

4¹ You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. ² Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin. ³ Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. ⁴ Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes. ⁵ Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies. ⁶ Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. ⁷ You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.

⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Come down from Mount Amana, from the peaks of Senir and Hermon, where the lions have their dens and leopards live among the hills. ⁹ You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace. ¹⁰ Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices. ¹¹ Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Your clothes are scented like the cedars of Lebanon. ¹² You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain. ¹³ Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates with rare spices- henna with nard, ¹⁴ nard and saffron, fragrant calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, and every other lovely spice.

¹⁵ You are a garden fountain, a well of fresh water streaming down from Lebanon's mountains. ¹⁶ Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around. Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits.