| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover. I yearned for him, but he did not come. | 1On my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him. |
| 2So I said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city, searching in all its streets and squares. I will search for the one I love.” So I searched everywhere but did not find him. | 2I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him. |
| 3The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, “Have you seen the one I love?” | 3I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city: “Have you seen the one I love?” |
| 4Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother’s house, into my mother’s bed, where I had been conceived. | 4I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me. |
| 5Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right. Young Women of Jerusalem | 5O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right. |
| 6Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness like a cloud of smoke? Who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense and every kind of spice? | 6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant? |
| 7Look, it is Solomon’s carriage, surrounded by sixty heroic men, the best of Israel’s soldiers. | 7Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel. |
| 8They are all skilled swordsmen, experienced warriors. Each wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack in the night. | 8All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night. |
| 9King Solomon’s carriage is built of wood imported from Lebanon. | 9King Solomon has made his carriage out of the timber of Lebanon. |
| 10Its posts are silver, its canopy gold; its cushions are purple. It was decorated with love by the young women of Jerusalem. Young Woman | 10He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem. |
| 11Come out to see King Solomon, young women of Jerusalem. He wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day, his most joyous day. | 11Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown his mother bestowed on the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing. |
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