3:1 The Beloved:

All night long¹ upon my bed² I continually longed for³ my beloved.⁴
I continually longed for⁵ him but he never appeared.⁶
3:2 I said: “I will arise⁷ and look all around⁸ throughout the town,
And throughout the streets⁹ and squares;
I will search for my beloved.”
I searched for him but I did not find him.¹⁰
3:3 The night watchmen¹¹ found me — the ones who guard the city walls.
I asked them: “Have you seen my beloved?”¹²
3:4 Scarcely¹³ had I passed by them that I found my beloved!
I held onto his hand¹⁴ tightly¹⁵ and I would not let him go¹⁶
Until I brought him to my mother’s house,¹⁷
To the bedroom chamber¹⁸ of she who conceived me.

3:5 The Beloved:

I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles and by the hinds of the field:
“Do not awake or arouse Love until it pleases!”

3:6 The Beloved (?):

Who is this coming up from the desert
Like a column of smoke, like a fragrant billow¹⁹ of myrrh and frankincense,²⁰
Every kind of fragrant powder²¹ sold by travelling-merchants?²²
3:7 Look! It is Solomon’s portable couch!²³
It is surrounded by sixty warriors,
Some of Israel’s mightiest warriors.
3:8 All of them are skilled with a sword,²⁴
Well-trained in the art of warfare.²⁵
Each has his sword at his side,
To guard against the terrors of the night.
3:9 King Solomon made a sedan-chair²⁶ for himself
Out of wood from Lebanon.²⁷
3:10 Its posts were made²⁸ out of silver,²⁹
Its back³⁰ out of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple wool,³¹
Its interior was inlaid³² with leather³³ by the maidens³⁴ of Jerusalem.
3:11 Come out, O maidens³⁵ of Zion!
And gaze upon King Solomon!
He is wearing the crown with which his mother
Crowned him on his wedding day, On the most joyous day of his life!³⁶