1 My bride, my very own,I come to my gardenand enjoy its spices.I eat my honeycomb and honey;I drink my wine and milk.Eat and drink untilyou are drunk with love.
2 I was asleep, but dreaming:the one I love was at the door,knocking and saying,“My darling, my very own,my flawless dove,open the door for me!My head is drenchedwith evening dew.”
3 But I had already undressedand bathed my feet.Should I dress againand get my feet dirty?
4 Then my darling's handreached to open the latch,and my heart stood still.
5 When I rose to open the door,my hands and my fingersdripped with perfume.
6 My heart stood stillwhile he spoke to me,but when I opened the door,my darling had disappeared.I searched and shouted,but I could not find him—there was no answer.
7 Then I was found by the guardspatrolling the townand guarding the wall.They beat me upand stripped off my robe.
8 Young women of Jerusalem,if you find the one I love,please say to him,“She is weak with desire.”
9 Most beautiful of women,why is the one you lovemore special than others?Why do you ask usto tell him how you feel?
10 He is handsome and healthy,the most outstandingamong ten thousand.
11 His head is purest gold;his hair is wavy,black as a raven.
12 His eyes are a pair of dovesbathing in a streamflowing with milk.
13 His face is a gardenof sweet-smelling spices;his lips are liliesdripping with perfume.
14 His arms are branches of goldcovered with jewels;his body is ivorydecorated with sapphires.
15 His legs are columns of marbleon feet of gold.He stands there majesticlike Mount Lebanonand its choice cedar trees.
16 His kisses are sweet.I desire him so much!Young women of Jerusalem,he is my lover and friend.