| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. | 1 In my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him. |
| 2“I will rise now,” I said, “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. | 2I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and the plazas. I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but did not find him. |
| 3The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?” | 3The guards who go about the city found me. I asked them, "Have you seen the one I love?" |
| 4Scarcely 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 the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. | 4I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held on to him and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother's house-- to the chamber of the one who conceived me. |
| 5I 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. | 5Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and the wild does of the field: do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time. N |
| 6Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders? | 6What is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from every fragrant powder of the merchant? |
| 7Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. | 7It is Solomon's royal litter surrounded by 60 warriors from the mighty of Israel. |
| 8They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night. | 8All of them are skilled with swords and trained in warfare. Each has his sword at his side to guard against the terror of the night. |
| 9Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin: | 9King Solomon made a sedan chair for himself with wood from Lebanon. |
| 10He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem. | 10He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, and its seat of purple. Its interior is inlaid with love by the young women of Jerusalem. |
| 11Go 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. | 11Come out, young women of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother placed on him the day of his wedding-- the day of his heart's rejoicing. |
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