| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Night after night on my bed, I sought the one I love; I sought him, but didn't find him. | 1All night long on my bed I longed for my lover. I longed for him but he never appeared. |
| 2I'll get up and go all around the city, throughout the streets, and in the squares. I'll seek the one I love. I sought him, but didn't find him. | 2"I will arise and look all around throughout the town, and throughout the streets and squares; I will search for my beloved." I searched for him but I did not find him. |
| 3The watchmen who go all around the city found me. I asked, "Have you seen the one I love?" | 3The night watchmen found me--the ones who guard the city walls. "Have you seen my beloved?" |
| 4I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and wouldn't let him go until I brought him to my mother's house, to the room of the one who conceived me. | 4Scarcely had I passed them by when I found my beloved! I held onto him tightly and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother's house, to the bedroom chamber of the one who conceived me. |
| 5Swear to me, young women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, that you won't awaken or arouse love before its proper time! | 5I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: "Do not awake or arouse love until it pleases!" |
| 6What is this coming up from the desert like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense from all the fragrant powders of the merchant? | 6Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, like a fragrant billow of myrrh and frankincense, every kind of fragrant powder of the traveling merchants? |
| 7Look! It's Solomon's sedan chair, with 60 of the best soldiers in Israel surrounding it. | 7Look! It is Solomon's portable couch! It is surrounded by sixty warriors, some of Israel's mightiest warriors. |
| 8All of them are wearing swords and are experienced in battle. Each has his sword on his thigh, ready for the terror of the night. | 8All of them are skilled with a sword, well-trained in the art of warfare. Each has his sword at his side, to guard against the terrors of the night. |
| 9King Solomon made the sedan chair for himself from the trees of Lebanon. | 9King Solomon made a sedan chair for himself of wood imported from Lebanon. |
| 10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold. Its seat was purple, and its interior was lovingly inlaid by the young women of Jerusalem. | 10Its posts were made of silver; its back was made of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple wool; its interior was inlaid with leather by the maidens of Jerusalem. |
| 11Come out, young women of Zion, and see King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day— his day of great delight. | 11Come out, O maidens 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! |
|
    |