[1] “I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have picked my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.” [2] “I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is full of dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’ [3] “I have taken off my long-sleeved garment, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again? [4] “My beloved sent forth his hand through the opening, And my feelings moaned for him. [5] “I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock. [6] “I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and passed by! My soul went out to him as he spoke. I searched for him, but I did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me. [7] “The watchmen who go about in the city found me, They struck me and wounded me; The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me. [8] “I call you to solemnly swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, What will you tell him? Tell him that I am sick with love.” [9] “What is your beloved that he is more than any other beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved that he is more than any other beloved, That thus you call us to solemnly swear?” [10] “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, Lifted up as a banner among ten thousand. [11] “His head is like gold, fine gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven. [12] “His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Washed in milk, And sitting in their setting. [13] “His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Towers of sweet-scented herbs; His lips are lilies Dripping with liquid myrrh. [14] “His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is a plate of ivory Inlaid with sapphires. [15] “His legs are pillars of marble Set on bases of fine gold; His appearance is like Lebanon Choice as the cedars. [16] “His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
