The Bride’s Dream 1 UST At night while I lay on my bed, I searched for the man whom I love. I searched for him, but could not find him. BSB BSB: On my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him.
2 UST So I said to myself,“I will get up now and walk around the city, through the streets and plazas, to search for the man whom I love.” So I got up and went out to search for him, but I could not find him. BSB BSB: I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him.
3 UST The city watchmen saw me while they were walking around the city. I asked them,“Have you seen the man whom I love?” BSB BSB: I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?”
4 UST As soon as I walked past them, I found the man whom I love. I clung to him and would not release my hold on him until I brought him to my mother’ s house, to the bedroom of my mother who had conceived me. The woman speaking to the women of Jerusalem BSB BSB: I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
5 UST You young women of Jerusalem, I want you to solemnly promise me, while the female gazelles and female deer are listening, that you will not cause people to love romantically until it is the right time. The woman speaking to herself BSB BSB: O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
Solomon Arrives on His Wedding Day 6 UST Look! See what is coming up from the dry and uninhabited area. Look at what is stirring up dust like clouds of smoke, and like billows of smoke from burning myrrh and incense, which are from the fragrant powders imported by traveling traders! BSB BSB: Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?
7 UST Look! Solomon has sent his portable royal chair, and it is surrounded by 60 bodyguards chosen from the greatest soldiers in Israel. BSB BSB: Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.
8 UST They all have swords, and they all know how to use them. Each one has his sword strapped to his side and is prepared to defend against dangers that might occur during the night. BSB BSB: All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.
9 UST King Solomon commanded his servants to make that royal portable chair for him; it was made with wood from Lebanon. BSB BSB: King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon.
10 UST The canopy that covered it was held up by posts made with silver, and the base of the palanquin was made with gold. The seat was covered with purple cloth, and the inside of the palanquin was lovingly decorated by the women of Jerusalem. BSB BSB: He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 UST You young women of Jerusalem, come and look at King Solomon wearing the headdress that his mother put on his head on the day when he was married, on the day when he was very happy. BSB BSB: Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing.
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