The Torment of Separation

1 “I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
          I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.
          I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
          I have drunk my wine and my milk.
          Eat, friends;
          Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.”

2 “I was asleep but my heart was awake.
          A voice! My beloved was knocking:
          ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
          My dove, my perfect one!
          For my head is drenched with dew,
          My locks with the damp of the night.’

3 “I have taken off my dress,
          How can I put it on again?
          I have washed my feet,
          How can I dirty them again?

4 “My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
          And my feelings were aroused for him.

5 “I arose to open to my beloved;
          And my hands dripped with myrrh,
          And my fingers with liquid myrrh,
          On the handles of the bolt.

6 “I opened to my beloved,
          But my beloved had turned away and had gone!
          My heart went out to him as he spoke.
          I searched for him but I did not find him;
          I called him but he did not answer me.

7 “The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
          They struck me and wounded me;
          The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.

8 “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
          If you find my beloved,
          As to what you will tell him:
          For I am lovesick.”

9 “What kind of beloved is your beloved,
          O most beautiful among women?
          What kind of beloved is your beloved,
          That thus you adjure us?”


Admiration by the Bride

10 “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy,
          Outstanding among ten thousand.

11 “His head is like gold, pure gold;
          His locks are like clusters of dates
          And black as a raven.

12 “His eyes are like doves
          Beside streams of water,
          Bathed in milk,
          And reposed in their setting.

13 “His cheeks are like a bed of balsam,
          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 sapphires.

15 “His legs are pillars of alabaster
          Set on pedestals of pure gold;
          His appearance is like Lebanon
          Choice as the cedars.

16 “His mouth is full of sweetness.
          And he is wholly desirable.
          This is my beloved and this is my friend,
          O daughters of Jerusalem.”