| 1Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned? Tell us, that we may seek him with you. | 1Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned? Tell us, that we may seek him with you. |
| 2My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the flowerbeds of balsam spices, to graze in the gardens, and to gather lilies. | 2My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the flowerbeds of balsam spices, to graze in the gardens, and to gather lilies. |
| 3I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he grazes among the lilies. | 3I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he grazes among the lilies. |
| 4My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as awe-inspiring as bannered armies! | 4My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as awe-inspiring as bannered armies! |
| 5Turn your eyes away from me--they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. | 5Turn your eyes away from me--they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. |
| 6Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin; not one of them is missing. | 6Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin; not one of them is missing. |
| 7Like a slice of pomegranate is your forehead behind your veil. | 7Like a slice of pomegranate is your forehead behind your veil. |
| 8There may be sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and young women without number. | 8There may be sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and young women without number. |
| 9But she is unique! My dove, my perfect one! She is the special daughter of her mother, she is the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and complimented her; the queens and concubines praised her: | 9But she is unique! My dove, my perfect one! She is the special daughter of her mother, she is the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and complimented her; the queens and concubines praised her: |
| 10"Who is this who appears like the dawn? Beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awe-inspiring as the stars in procession?" | 10"Who is this who appears like the dawn? Beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awe-inspiring as the stars in procession?" |
| 11I went down to the orchard of walnut trees, to look for the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines had budded or if the pomegranates were in bloom. | 11I went down to the orchard of walnut trees, to look for the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines had budded or if the pomegranates were in bloom. |
| 12I was beside myself with joy! There please give me your myrrh, O daughter of my princely people. | 12I was beside myself with joy! There please give me your myrrh, O daughter of my princely people. |
| 13Turn, turn, O Perfect One! Turn, turn, that I may stare at you! The Beloved to Her Lover: Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One like the dance of the Mahanaim? | 13Turn, turn, O Perfect One! Turn, turn, that I may stare at you! The Beloved to Her Lover: Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One like the dance of the Mahanaim? |
|
    |