| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. | 1One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover. I yearned for him, but he did not come. |
| 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. | 2So I said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city, searching in all its streets and squares. I will search for the one I love.” So I searched everywhere but did not find him. |
| 3The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?” | 3The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, “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. | 4Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother’s house, into my mother’s bed, where I had been conceived. |
| 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. | 5Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right. Young Women of Jerusalem |
| 6Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders? | 6Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke? Who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense and every kind of spice? |
| 7Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. | 7Look, it is Solomon’s carriage, surrounded by sixty heroic men, the best of Israel’s soldiers. |
| 8They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night. | 8They are all skilled swordsmen, experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack in the night. |
| 9Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin: | 9King Solomon’s carriage is built of wood imported 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. | 10Its posts are silver, its canopy gold; its cushions are purple. It was decorated with love by the young women of Jerusalem. Young Woman |
| 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 to see King Solomon, young women of Jerusalem. He wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day, his most joyous day. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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