Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Upon my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.
1
Night after night on my bed I looked for the one I love. I looked for him but did not find him.
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.
2
I will get up now and roam around the city, in the streets, and in the squares. I will look for the one I love. I looked for him but did not find him.
3 The watchmen found me, as they went about in the city. "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"
3
The watchmen making their rounds in the city found me. [I asked,] "Have you seen the one I love?"
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 that conceived me.
4
I had just left them when I found the one I love. I held on to him and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house, into the bedroom of the one who conceived me.
5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the hinds of the field, that you stir not up nor awaken love until it please.
5
Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or by the does in the field, that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time.
6 What is that coming up from the wilderness, like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant?
6
Who is this young woman coming up from the wilderness like clouds of smoke? She is perfumed with myrrh and incense made from the merchants' scented powders.
7 Behold, it is the litter of Solomon! About it are sixty mighty men of the mighty men of Israel,
7
Look! Solomon's sedan chair! Sixty soldiers from the army of Israel surround it.
8 all girt with swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh, against alarms by night.
8
All of them are skilled in using swords, experienced in combat. Each one has his sword at his side and guards against the terrors of the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a palanquin from the wood of Lebanon.
9
King Solomon had a carriage made for himself from the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; it was lovingly wrought within by the daughters of Jerusalem.
10
He had its posts made out of silver, its top out of gold, its seat out of purple fabric. Its inside--with inlaid scenes of love-- was made by the young women of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and behold 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.
11
Young women of Zion, come out and look at King Solomon! Look at his crown, the crown his mother placed on him on his wedding day, his day of joyful delight.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.