Song of Solomon — Chapter 5

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.

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.”

3I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?

4My beloved put his hand to the latch; my heart pounded 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.

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.

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.

8O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.

9How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?

10My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.

11His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

12His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels.

13His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.

14His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.

15His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, as majestic as the cedars.

16His mouth is most sweet; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

1I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: 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; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

2I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

3I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

4My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

5I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

6I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

8I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

9What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

10My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

11His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

12His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.

13His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

14His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

1I am come into 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; Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

2I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.

3I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

4My beloved put in his hand by the hole [of the door], And my heart was moved for him.

5I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands droppeth with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt.

6I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had withdrawn himself, [and] was gone. My soul had failed me when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7The watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.

8I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, That ye tell him, that I am sick from love.

9What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?

10My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.

11His head is [as] the most fine gold; His locks are bushy, [and] black as a raven.

12His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, [and] fitly set.

13His cheeks are as a bed of spices, [As] banks of sweet herbs: His lips are [as] lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

14His hands are [as] rings of gold set with beryl: His body is [as] ivory work overlaid [with] sapphires.

15His legs are [as] pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16His mouth is most sweet; Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

1The Lover to His Beloved: I have entered my garden, O my sister, my bride; I 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!

2The Beloved about Her Lover: I 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.”

3The Beloved to Her Lover: “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 lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him.

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 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 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!

8The Beloved to the Maidens: I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem— If you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him that I am lovesick!

9The Maidens to The Beloved: Why is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful of women? Why is your beloved better than others, that you would admonish us in this manner?

10The Beloved to the Maidens: My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men.

11His head is like the purest gold. His hair is curly—black like a raven.

12His eyes are like doves by streams of water, washed in milk, mounted like jewels.

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 like rods of gold set with chrysolite. His abdomen is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires.

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 very sweet; he is totally desirable. This is my beloved! This is my companion, O maidens of Jerusalem!

1I have come into 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. Friends Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.

2I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night.”

3I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?

4My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.

5I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.

6I opened to my beloved; but my beloved left; and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn’t find him. I called him, but he didn’t answer.

7The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.

8I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am faint with love.

9How is your beloved better than another beloved, you fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us?

10My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand.

11His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.

12His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels.

13His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

14His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.

15His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.