| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1I 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! | 1I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Friends Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love. |
| 2I 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.” | 2I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." |
| 3I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them? | 3I have taken off my robe-- must I put it on again? I have washed my feet-- must I soil them again? |
| 4My beloved put his hand By the latch of the door, And my heart yearned for him. | 4My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. |
| 5I arose to open for my beloved, And my hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock. | 5I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. |
| 6I 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. | 6I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. |
| 7The 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. | 7The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls! |
| 8I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick! | 8Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you-- if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love. |
| 9What is your beloved More than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved More than another beloved, That you so charge us? | 9How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us? |
| 10My beloved is white and ruddy, Chief among ten thousand. | 10My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. |
| 11His head is like the finest gold; His locks are wavy, And black as a raven. | 11His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. |
| 12His eyes are like doves By the rivers of waters, Washed with milk, And fitly set. | 12His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. |
| 13His cheeks are like a bed of spices, Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies, Dripping liquid myrrh. | 13His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. |
| 14His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires. | 14His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli. |
| 15His legs are pillars of marble Set on bases of fine gold. His countenance is like Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars. | 15His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. |
| 16His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem! | 16His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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