Song Of Songs 3

NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)

AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)

Verse 1

“All night long on my bed
I searched for the one my heart loves.
I looked for him but didn’t find him.

“On my bed night after night [I dreamed that] I sought the one
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.

Verse 2

I will get up and go around in the city.
I’ll look through all of its streets.
I’ll search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but didn’t find him.

“I said ‘So I must arise now and go out into the city;
Into the streets and into the squares [places I do not know]
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but I did not find him.

Verse 3

Those on guard duty found me
as they were walking around in the city.
‘Have you seen the one my heart loves?’ I asked.

“The watchmen who go around the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’

Verse 4

As soon as I had passed by them
    I found the one my heart loves.
I threw my arms around him and didn’t let him go
    until I had brought him to my mother’s house.
    I took him to my mother’s room.

“Scarcely had I passed them
When I found him whom my soul loves.
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the chamber of her who conceived me.”

(The Bridegroom)

Verse 5

Women of Jerusalem, make me a promise.
Let the antelopes and the does serve as witnesses.
Don’t stir up love.
Don’t wake it up until it’s ready.

“I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
That you do not rouse nor awaken my love
Until she pleases.”

Solomon’s Wedding Day

(The Shulammite Bride)

Verse 6

“Who is this man coming up from the desert
like a column of smoke?
He smells like myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the trader.

“What is this coming up from the wilderness
Like [stately] pillars of smoke
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all the fragrant powders of the merchant?”

(The Chorus)

Verse 7

Look! There’s Solomon’s movable throne.
Sixty soldiers accompany it.
They have been chosen from the best warriors in Israel.

“Behold, it is the couch (^[a]palanquin) of Solomon;
Sixty mighty men around it,
Of the mighty men of Israel.

Verse 8

All of them are wearing swords.
They have fought many battles.
Each one has his sword at his side.
Each is prepared for the terrors of the night.

“All of them handle the sword,
All expert in war;
Each man has his sword at his thigh,
Guarding against the terrors of the night.

Verse 9

King Solomon made the movable throne for himself.
He made it out of wood from Lebanon.

“King Solomon has made for himself a palanquin
From the [cedar] wood of Lebanon.

Verse 10

He formed its posts out of silver.
He made its base out of gold.
Its seat was covered with purple cloth.
It was decorated inside with love.
Women of Jerusalem,

“He made its posts of silver,
Its back of gold,
Its seat of purple cloth,
The interior lovingly and intricately wrought
By the daughters of Jerusalem.

Verse 11

come out.

“Look, you women of Zion.
    Look at King Solomon wearing his crown.
    His mother placed it on him.
She did it on his wedding day.
    His heart was full of joy.”

“Go forth, O daughters of Zion,
And gaze on King Solomon wearing the crown
With which his mother [Bathsheba] has crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
On the day of his gladness of heart.”