1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride {kallah: beloved partner}. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; drink and become drunk, beloved {dodim: intimate companions}.
2 I am sleeping, but my heart is awake. It is the voice of my beloved knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my companion {raʿyāṯî: beloved friend}, my dove, my perfect one {tammāṯî: blameless}, for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night.”
3 I have taken off my tunic {kutanti: personal garment}; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet {raglai: symbol of journey}; how shall I soil them?
4 My beloved {dodi: intimate companion} sent his hand through the opening, and my inward parts {me'ai: deep emotions} were stirred for him.
5 I arose, I, to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh {mor: aromatic resin}, and my fingers with flowing myrrh, upon the handles of the lock {man’ul: door bolt}.
6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had slipped away {chamak: sudden departure}. My soul {nafshi: inner being} went out when he spoke; I sought him, but I did not find him. I called him, but he did not answer me.
7 The watchmen {shomrim: city guards} who circle the city found me; they struck me and wounded me. The keepers of the walls took away my veil {redidi: outer cloak} from upon me.
8 I have made you swear {hishba‘ti: solemn pledge}, O daughters of Jerusalem, that if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? That I am lovesick {shecholat: deeply pained}.
9 What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women {hayafah: supremely beautiful}? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you have made us swear {hishba’ta-nu: bound by oath}?
10 My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding {dagul: conspicuous} among ten thousand {mervavah: great multitude}.
11 His head is like the finest gold {paz: pure gold}, his locks are wavy curls, black as a raven {orev: black-feathered bird}.
12 His eyes are like doves {yonim: gentle grace} beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting in their setting {millet: finely framed}.
13 His cheeks are like a bed of spice {bosem: aromatic substance}, towers of ointments; his lips are lilies, dripping with passing myrrh {mor: fragrant resin}.
14 His hands are rings {gelilei: circular ornaments} of gold filled with tarshish {tarshish: precious gemstone}; his inward parts are a slab of ivory overlaid with sapphires.
15 His legs are pillars {pillars: architectural supports} of marble, set upon bases of pure gold; his appearance is like Lebanon, chosen as cedars {cedars: tall evergreen trees}.
16 His mouth {chiko: expressive speech} is full of sweetness, and he is altogether desirable {m əḥammadîm: precious things}. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.