Song of Solomon 3 ASV
Summary: The woman recounts a night scene, searching the city streets for her beloved after failing to find him on her bed, questioning the watchmen, and finally finding him and bringing him to her mother's house — followed again by her refrain against awakening love prematurely. The chapter then shifts to a grand procession: "who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke" (v. 6), revealed to be Solomon's traveling couch guarded by sixty mighty men armed against the terrors of the night. The litter itself is described as built of Lebanon's wood with posts of silver, a back of gold, and a seat of purple, and the chapter closes urging the daughters of Zion to go out and see King Solomon wearing the crown given by his mother on his wedding day.
1By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
2I 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.
3The watchmen that go about the city found me; To whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4It 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.
5I 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.
6Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?
7Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
8They all handle the sword, and are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
9King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.
10He 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.
11Go 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.
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