Song of Songs 3

1 At night on my bed I sought the one my soul loves. I sought him but did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me.

2 I will get up now and go around the city, through the markets and squares, and seek the one my soul loves. I sought him but did not find him.

3 The guards who patrol the city found me. I asked, “Have you seen the one my soul loves?”

4 I had scarcely passed them when I found the one my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go until I brought him into my mother’s house, into the private room of the woman who conceived me.

5 I make you swear, daughters of Jerusalem, by the powers and strengths of the field: do not wake or stir up love until it wishes.

6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with every powder of the perfumer?

7 Look, it is Solomon’s litter, with sixty warriors around it from among Israel’s warriors.

8 All of them hold swords and are trained for war, each one with his sword at his thigh because of terror in the night.

9 King Solomon made himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon.

10 He made its pillars of silver, its reclining place of gold, and its step of purple. Its interior was paved with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Come out and look at King Solomon wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, the day his heart rejoiced.