Read the Bible

The Torment of Separation

(The Bridegroom)

¹ "I have ^(C1)come into my garden, ^(C2)my sister, my promised bride;
I have gathered my ^(C3)myrrh along with my balsam and spice from your sweet words.
I have eaten my honeycomb with my ^(C4)honey;
I have ^(C5)drunk my wine with my milk.
Eat, ^(C6)friends;
Drink and drink deeply, O lovers." ^(VR1)

(The Shulammite Bride)

² "I was asleep, but my heart was awake.
A voice in my dream! My beloved was knocking:
'Open to me, ^(C1)my sister, my darling,
^(C2)My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is drenched with the heavy night dew;
My ^(C3)hair is covered with the dampness of the night.' ^(VR1)

³ "I had ^(C1)taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I had ^(C2)washed my feet,
How could I get them dirty again? ^(VR1)

⁴ "My beloved extended his hand through the opening of the door,
And my ^(C1)feelings were aroused for him.

⁵ "I arose to open for my beloved;
And my hands ^(C1)dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with liquid sweet-scented myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.

⁶ "I opened for my beloved,
But my beloved had ^(C1)turned away and was gone.
My heart went out to him when he ^(C2)spoke.
I ^(C3)searched for him, but I could not find him;
I ^(C4)called him, but he did not answer me.

⁷ "The ^(C1)watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me.
They struck me, they wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took my shawl from me.

⁸ "I ^(C1)command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you tell him—
Say that ^(C2)I am sick from love sick from being without him." ^(VR1)

(The Chorus)

⁹ "What is your beloved more than another beloved,
O ^(C1)most beautiful among women?
What is your beloved more than another beloved,
That you should so command us to take an oath?" ^(VR1)

Admiration by the Bride

(The Shulammite Bride)

¹⁰ "My beloved is exquisitely handsome and ^(C1)ruddy,
^(C2)Outstanding among ten thousand. ^(VR1)

¹¹ "His head is like precious gold, pure gold;
His ^(C1)hair is curly like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.

¹² "His ^(C1)eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk
And reposed ^(C2)in their setting.

¹³ "His cheeks are like a ^(C1)bed of balsam,
Banks of sweet, fragrant herbs.
His lips are ^(C2)lilies
^(C3)Dripping sweet-scented myrrh.

¹⁴ "His hands are rods of gold
Set with ^(C1)beryl;
His abdomen is a figure of carved ivory
Inlaid with ^(C2)sapphires.

¹⁵ "His legs are strong and steady pillars of alabaster
Set upon pedestals of fine gold.
His appearance is like ^(C1)Lebanon,
Stately and choice as the ^(C2)cedars.

¹⁶ "His ^(C1)mouth is full of sweetness;
Yes, he is altogether ^(C2)lovely and desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem." ^(VR1)