Songofsolomon 3 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Through the long hours of night on my bed, I reached for the one my whole being loves — I reached for him, but he was not there.

Let me rise now and move through the city, through its streets and its open squares — let me search for the one my whole being loves. I searched for him, but he was not there.

The watchmen found me as they circled the city. "Have you seen the one my whole being loves?"

Barely had I passed them when I found the one my whole being loves. I held him and would not let go — not until I had brought him to my mother's house, into the room of the woman who carried me.

I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the wild does of the field — do not stir, do not rouse love until it is ready.

What is this rising from the wilderness like columns of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense, with every fragrant powder of the merchant?

Look — it is Solomon's traveling bed, with sixty warriors surrounding it, the finest of Israel's fighters.

All of them trained with the sword, veterans of battle — each with his blade at his side against the terrors of the night.

King Solomon built himself a carriage from the wood of Lebanon.

He made its posts of silver, its canopy of gold, its seat draped in purple cloth — its interior lined with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Come out and look, daughters of Zion — look at King Solomon wearing the crown his mother placed on his head on the day of his wedding, the day his heart was full of joy.