3:1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3:1 "On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him.

3:2 (I said), I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3:2 'I must arise now and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.' I sought him but did not find him.

3:3 The watchmen that go about the city found me; (To whom I said), Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
3:3 "The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, [And I said,] ' Have you seen him whom my soul loves? '

3:4 It was but a little that I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.
3:4 "Scarcely had I left 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 room of her who conceived me."

3:5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake (my) love, Until he please.
3:5 "I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, That you will not arouse or awaken [my] love, Until she pleases."

3:6 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?
3:6 "What is this coming up from the wilderness Like columns of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all scented powders of the merchant?

3:7 Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
3:7 "Behold, it is the [traveling] couch of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men of Israel.

3:8 They all handle the sword, (and) are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
3:8 "All of them are wielders of the sword, Expert in war; Each man has his sword at his side, [Guarding] against the terrors of the night.

3:9 King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.
3:9 "King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon.

3:10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, The bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, The midst thereof being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.
3:10 "He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold [And] its seat of purple fabric, [With] its interior lovingly fitted out By the daughters of Jerusalem.

3:11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, With the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.
3:11 "Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart."