Song of Solomon Chapter 5

                        1 “I’ve come to my garden, my sister, my bride;

                        I’ve gathered my myrrh and spice.

                  I’ve eaten my honey and honeycomb,

                        and drunk my wine and milk.

                  Eat, friends, and drink;

                        drink deeply, lovers.”                                     S of S 5:1

Bride

            2 “I was asleep, but my heart was awake.

                        A voice! my beloved is knocking.

‘Open for me, my sister, my darling,

                        my dove, my perfect one!

                  My head is drenched with dew;

                        my hair is damp from the night.’

            3 I’ve taken off my dress;

                        how can I put it on again?

                  I’ve washed my feet;

                        how can I get them dirty again?

            4 My beloved extended his hand through the opening,

                  my feelings were aroused.                                    S of S 5:2-4

            5 I got up to open the door for him;

                  my hands dripped with myrrh,

                  my fingers with liquid myrrh,

                        on the handles of the bolt.

            6 I opened for my beloved,

                  but he’d turned away and gone!

            I looked for him but didn’t find him;

                  I called for him, but he didn’t answer.

            7 The watchmen that make their rounds in the city met me;

                  they struck me and hurt me;

                  the guardsmen took my shawl.

            8 I adjure you, young women of Jerusalem,

                  if you find my beloved, tell him I’m lovesick.”     S of S 5:5-8

Friends

            9 “But what kind of beloved is he,

                        most beautiful among women?

                  What kind of beloved is your beloved,

                        that you adjure us that way?”                        S of S 5:9

Bride

            10 “My beloved is radiant and healthy,

                  outstanding among 10,000.

            11 His head is like gold—pure gold;

                  his hair is like clusters of dates,

                        and black as a raven.

            12 His eyes are like doves beside streams of water,

                  bathed in milk and neatly set.

            13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices,

                        banks of sweet-scented herbs;

                  his lips are lilies,

                        dripping with liquid myrrh.

            14 His hands are rods of gold,

                        set with beryl;

                  his abdomen is carved ivory

                        inlaid with lapis lazuli.

            15 His legs are alabaster pillars

                        set on pedestals of pure gold;

                  his appearance is like Lebanon,

                        as choice as the cedars.

            16 His mouth is full of sweetness;

                        he’s so desirable.

                  That’s my beloved, my friend,

                        young women of Jerusalem.”                         S of S 5:10-16

Friends

From the CYV translation by Virgil Warren, PhD