Song Of Songs 3

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

NLT — New Living Translation Bible (NLT)

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.

One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover.
I yearned for him, but he did not come.

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.

So 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.

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 stopped me as they made their rounds,
and I asked, “Have you seen the one I love?”

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.

Then 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.

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.

Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles and wild deer,
not to awaken love until the time is right.^[a]

Young Women of Jerusalem

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.

Who 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?

Verse 7

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

Look, it is Solomon’s carriage,
surrounded by sixty heroic men,
the best of Israel’s soldiers.

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.

They are all skilled swordsmen,
experienced warriors.
Each wears a sword on his thigh,
ready to defend the king against an attack in the night.

Verse 9

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

King Solomon’s carriage is built
of wood imported from 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,

Its posts are silver,
    its canopy gold;
    its cushions are purple.
It was decorated with love
    by the young women of Jerusalem.

Young Woman

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.”

Come out to see King Solomon,
young women of Jerusalem.^[b]
He wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day,
his most joyous day.