5
Lover
1 I
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.
Beloved
2 I
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.”
3 I have
taken off my
robe. Indeed, must I put it
on?
I have washed my
feet. Indeed, must I soil them?
4 My
beloved thrust his
hand in through
the latch opening.
My heart pounded
for him.
5 I
rose up to
open for my
beloved.
My hands dripped
with myrrh,
my fingers with
liquid myrrh,
on the handles
of the lock.
6 I
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.
7 The
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.
8 I
adjure you,
daughters of
Jerusalem,
If you find my
beloved,
that you tell
him that I
am faint with
love.
Friends
9 How
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?
Beloved
10 My beloved
is white and ruddy.
The best among ten
thousand.
11 His
head is like
the purest gold.
His hair is
bushy, black as a
raven.
12 His
eyes are like
doves beside the
water brooks,
washed with milk,
mounted like
jewels.
13 His
cheeks are like
a bed of
spices with towers
of perfumes.
His lips are
like lilies,
dropping liquid
myrrh.
14 His
hands are like
rings of gold
set with beryl.
His body is
like ivory work
overlaid with
sapphires.
15 His
legs are like
pillars of marble
set on sockets of
fine gold.
His appearance is
like Lebanon, excellent
as the cedars.
16 His
mouth is sweetness;
yes, he is
altogether lovely.
This is my
beloved, and this
is my friend,
daughters of
Jerusalem.