• The Beloved

  • 1 I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!

  • The Shulamite

  • 2 I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.”
  • 3 I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?
  • 4 My beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him.
  • 5 I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.
  • 6 I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
  • 7 The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me.
  • 8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick!

  • The Daughters of Jerusalem

  • 9 What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us?

  • The Shulamite

  • 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.
  • 11 His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven.
  • 12 His eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set.
  • 13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies, Dripping liquid myrrh.
  • 14 His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.
  • 15 His legs are pillars of marble Set on bases of fine gold. His countenance is like Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars.
  • 16 His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!