Song of Solomon 3 DBY
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.
1On my bed, in the nights, I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
2I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broadways Will I seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3The watchmen that go about the city found me: — Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?
4— Scarcely had 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 charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he please.
6Who is this, [she] that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?...
7Behold his couch, Solomon's own: Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty of Israel.
8They all hold the sword, Experts in war; Each hath his sword upon his thigh Because of alarm in the nights.
9King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.
10Its pillars he made of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple; The midst thereof was paved [with] love By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11Go forth, daughters of Zion, And behold king Solomon With the crown wherewith his mother crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.
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