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 with my milk. Eat, O friends. Drink, yes, drink your fill of love.

2I slept, but my heart was awake. It is my beloved that knocks, saying, “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my flawless one; for my head is drenched with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night. 3I have removed my robe; shall I put it back on? I have washed my feet; shall I get them soiled?” 4My beloved put his hand through the latch-opening of the door, and my heart was pounding for him. 5I arose to open for my beloved; and my hands dripped with myrrh, sweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt. 6I opened for my beloved; but my beloved had left, and was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called to him, but he did not answer. 7The watchmen that patrolled the city found me; they beat me, they bruised me; those watchmen of the walls took my cloak away from me.

8 O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: if you find my beloved, what will you tell him, that I am sick with love?

9How is your beloved better than another, O you fairest among women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us?

10My beloved is radiant and ruddy, better than ten thousand. 11His head is purest gold, his hair bushy, and black as a raven. 12His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the streams of waters, washed with milk, and set with jewels. 13His cheeks are like a bed of spice yielding perfume, like sweet flowers; his lips like lilies, dripping sweet-smelling myrrh. 14His arms are like rods of gold rings set with the beryl; his body is like bright ivory bedecked with sapphires. 15His legs are like pillars of marble, set upon bases of fine gold; his appearance is as Lebanon, as choice as the cedars. 16His mouth is sweetness, itself; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.