A Troubled Night

1 Bynight on my bed I sought the one I love;

I sought him, but I did not find him.

2 “I will rise now,”Isaid,

“And go about the city;

In the streets and in the squares

I will seek the one I love.”

I sought him, but I did not find him.

3 The watchmen who go about the city found me;

Isaid,

“Have you seen the one I love?”

4 Scarcely had I passed by them,

When I found the one I love.

I held him and would not let him go,

Until I had brought him to thehouse of my mother,

And into the chamber of her who conceived me.

5 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

By the gazelles or by the does of the field,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.

The Coming of Solomon

6 Whoisthis coming out of the wilderness

Like pillars of smoke,

Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,

With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?

7 Behold, itisSolomon’s couch,

Withsixty valiant men around it,

Of the valiant of Israel.

8 They all hold swords,

Beingexpert in war.

Every manhashis sword on his thigh

Because of fear in the night.

9 Of the wood of Lebanon

Solomon the King

Made himself a palanquin:

10 He made its pillarsofsilver,

Its supportofgold,

Its seatofpurple,

Its interior pavedwithlove

By the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion,

And see King Solomon with the crown

With which his mother crowned him

On the day of his wedding,

The day of the gladness of his heart.