Canticle of Canticles 3

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 On my bed at night I sought him	1 Bride: "On my bed, throughout the night, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him."
2 I will rise then and go about the city;	2 "I will rise up, and I will circle through the city. Through the side streets and thoroughfares, I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, and did not find him."
3 The watchmen came upon me	3 "The watchers who guard the city found me: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”"
4 I had hardly left them	4 "When I had passed by them a little, I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not release him, until I would bring him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who bore me."
5 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem,	5 Groom to Chorus: "I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, until she wills."
6 What is this coming up from the desert,	6 Chorus to Groom: "Who is she, who ascends through the desert, like a staff of smoke from the aromatics of myrrh, and frankincense, and every powder of the perfumer?"
7 Ah, it is the litter of Solomon;	7 Chorus to Bride: "Lo, sixty strong ones, out of all the strongest in Israel, stand watch at the bed of Solomon,"
8 All of them expert with the sword,	8 "all holding swords and well-trained in warfare, each one’s weapon upon his thigh, because of fears in the night."
9 King Solomon made himself a carriage	9 Bride to Chorus: "King Solomon made himself a portable throne from the wood of Lebanon."
10 He made its columns of silver,	10 "He made its columns of silver, the reclining place of gold, the ascent of purple; the middle he covered well, out of charity for the daughters of Jerusalem."
11 Daughters of Jerusalem, come forth	11 "O daughters of Zion, go forth and see king Solomon with the diadem with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his espousal, on the day of the rejoicing of his heart."