Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn't find him.
1
Restless in bed and sleepless through the night, I longed for my lover. I wanted him desperately. His absence was painful.
2 I will get up 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 I didn't find him.
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 The watchmen who go about the city found me; "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"
3
And then the night watchmen found me as they patrolled the darkened city. "Have you seen my dear lost love?" I asked.
4 I had scarcely passed from 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, Into the chamber of her who conceived me.
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 I adjure you, daughters of Yerushalayim, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires.
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.
6 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all spices of the merchant?
6
What's this I see, approaching from the desert, raising clouds of dust, Filling the air with sweet smells and pungent aromatics?
7 Behold, it is Shlomo's carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, Of the mighty men of Yisra'el.
7
Look! It's Solomon's carriage, carried and guarded by sixty soldiers, sixty of Israel's finest,
8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
8
All of them armed to the teeth, trained for battle, ready for anything, anytime.
9 King Shlomo made himself a carriage Of the wood of Levanon.
9
King Solomon once had a carriage built from fine-grained Lebanon cedar.
10 He made its pillars of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst being paved with love, From the daughters of Yerushalayim.
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 Go forth, you daughters of Tziyon, and see king Shlomo, With the crown with which his mother has crowned him, In the day of his weddings, In the day of the gladness of his heart. Lover
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 Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.