Together in the Garden of Love
He
I acame to my garden, my bsister, my bride,
I gathered my cmyrrh with my spice,
I ate my dhoneycomb with my honey,
I edrank my wine with my milk.
Others
Eat, ffriends, drink,
and be drunk with love!
The Bride Searches for Her Beloved
She
2 I slept, but my heart was awake.
A sound! My beloved is aknocking.
“Open to me, my bsister, my clove,
my ddove, my eperfect one,
for my head is wet with dew,
my flocks with the drops of the night.”
3 aI had put off my garment;
how could I put it on?
I had bbathed my feet;
how could I soil them?
4 My beloved put his hand to the latch,
and my heart was thrilled within me.
5 I arose to open to my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with aliquid myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened to my beloved,
but my beloved had turned and gone.
My soul failed me when he aspoke.
bI sought him, but found him not;
cI called him, but he gave no answer.
7 aThe watchmen found me
as they went about in the city;
they beat me, they bruised me,
they took away my veil,
those watchmen of the walls.
8 I aadjure you, O bdaughters of Jerusalem,
if you find my beloved,
that you tell him
cI am sick with love.
Others
9 What is your beloved more than another beloved,
O amost beautiful among women?
What is your beloved more than another beloved,
that you thus badjure us?
The Bride Praises Her Beloved
She
10 My beloved is radiant and aruddy,
bdistinguished among ten thousand.
11 His head is the finest gold;
ahis locks are wavy,
black as a raven.
12 His aeyes are like doves
beside streams of water,
bathed in milk,
sitting beside a full pool.
13 His acheeks are like bbeds of spices,
mounds of sweet‑smelling herbs.
His lips are clilies,
dripping dliquid myrrh.
14 His arms are rods of gold,
set with ajewels.
His body is polished ivory,
bedecked with bsapphires.
15 His legs are alabaster columns,
set on bases of gold.
His appearance is like aLebanon,
choice as the cedars.
16 His amouth is most sweet,
and he is altogether desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O bdaughters of Jerusalem.