Song Of Solomon
Select chapter 5

Song of Solomon 5

The Torment of Separation

1“[a]I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.
I have eaten my honeycomb [b]and my honey;
I have drunk my wine [c]and my milk.
Eat, friends;
Drink and [d]imbibe deeply, O lovers.”

2 “[e]I was asleep but my heart was awake.
A voice! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is [f]drenched with dew,
My locks with the [g]damp of the night.’
3 “I have taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I have washed my feet,
How can I dirty them again?
4 “My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
And my [h]feelings were aroused for him.
5 “I arose to open to my beloved;
And my hands dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with [i]liquid myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
6 “I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and had gone!
My [j]heart went out to him as he spoke.
I searched for him but I did not find him;
I called him but he did not answer me.
7 “The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
They struck me and wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.
8 “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you will tell him:
For I am lovesick.”

9 “[k][l]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
O most beautiful among women?
[m]What kind of beloved is your beloved,
That thus you adjure us?”

Admiration by the Bride

10 “[n]My beloved is dazzling and ruddy,
[o]Outstanding among ten thousand.
11 “His head is like gold, pure gold;
His locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.
12 “His eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk,
And [p]reposed in their setting.
13 “His cheeks are like a bed of balsam,
Banks of sweet-scented herbs;
His lips are lilies
Dripping with liquid myrrh.
14 “His hands are rods of gold
Set with beryl;
His abdomen is carved ivory
Inlaid with [q]sapphires.
15 “His legs are pillars of alabaster
Set on pedestals of pure gold;
His appearance is like Lebanon
Choice as the cedars.
16 “His [r]mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 5:1 BRIDEGROOM
  2. Song of Solomon 5:1 Lit with
  3. Song of Solomon 5:1 Lit with
  4. Song of Solomon 5:1 Or become drunk
  5. Song of Solomon 5:2 BRIDE
  6. Song of Solomon 5:2 Lit filled
  7. Song of Solomon 5:2 Lit drops
  8. Song of Solomon 5:4 Lit bowels
  9. Song of Solomon 5:5 Lit passing
  10. Song of Solomon 5:6 Lit soul
  11. Song of Solomon 5:9 CHORUS
  12. Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
  13. Song of Solomon 5:9 Or What is your beloved more than another beloved
  14. Song of Solomon 5:10 BRIDE
  15. Song of Solomon 5:10 Lit Lifted up banner
  16. Song of Solomon 5:12 Lit sitting upon
  17. Song of Solomon 5:14 Lit lapis lazuli
  18. Song of Solomon 5:16 Lit palate
Song of Solomon 5