New Living Translation

1 I have entered my garden, my treasure, my bride!<br>I gather myrrh with my spices<br>and eat honeycomb with my honey.<br>I drink wine with my milk. <b>Young Women of Jerusalem</b><br> Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink!<br>Yes, drink deeply of your love!<br> 2 I slept, but my heart was awake,<br>when I heard my lover knocking and calling:<br>“Open to me, my treasure, my darling,<br>my dove, my perfect one.<br>My head is drenched with dew,<br>my hair with the dampness of the night.”<br> 3 But I responded,<br>“I have taken off my robe.<br>Should I get dressed again?<br>I have washed my feet.<br>Should I get them soiled?”<br> 4 My lover tried to unlatch the door,<br>and my heart thrilled within me.<br> 5 I jumped up to open the door for my love,<br>and my hands dripped with perfume.<br>My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh<br>as I pulled back the bolt.<br> 6 I opened to my lover,<br>but he was gone!<br>My heart sank.<br>I searched for him<br>but could not find him anywhere.<br>I called to him,<br>but there was no reply.<br> 7 The night watchmen found me<br>as they made their rounds.<br>They beat and bruised me<br>and stripped off my veil,<br>those watchmen on the walls.<br> 8 Make this promise, O women of Jerusalem —<br>If you find my lover,<br>tell him I am weak with love.<br> 9 Why is your lover better than all others,<br>O woman of rare beauty?<br>What makes your lover so special<br>that we must promise this?<br> 10 My lover is dark and dazzling,<br>better than ten thousand others!<br> 11 His head is finest gold,<br>his wavy hair is black as a raven.<br> 12 His eyes sparkle like doves<br>beside springs of water;<br>they are set like jewels<br>washed in milk.<br> 13 His cheeks are like gardens of spices<br>giving off fragrance.<br>His lips are like lilies,<br>perfumed with myrrh.<br> 14 His arms are like rounded bars of gold,<br>set with beryl.<br>His body is like bright ivory,<br>glowing with lapis lazuli.<br> 15 His legs are like marble pillars<br>set in sockets of finest gold.<br>His posture is stately,<br>like the noble cedars of Lebanon.<br> 16 His mouth is sweetness itself;<br>he is desirable in every way.<br>Such, O women of Jerusalem,<br>is my lover, my friend.<br>