Read the Bible

¹ In my bed at night^[a]
I sought the one I love;^(a)
I sought him, but did not find him.^[b](b)
2 I will arise now and go about the city,
through the streets and the plazas.^(c)
I will seek the one I love.
I sought him, but did not find him.
³ The guards who go about the city found me.^(d)
I asked them, "Have you seen the one I love?"
⁴ I had just passed them
when I found the one I love.
I held on to him and would not let him go
until I brought him to my mother's house^(e)—
to the chamber of the one who conceived me.
⁵ Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and the wild does of the field:
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time.^[c](f)

⁶ N What is this^(g) coming up from the wilderness
like columns of smoke,
scented with myrrh and frankincense^(h)
from every fragrant powder of the merchant?
⁷ It is Solomon's royal litter^[d]
surrounded by 60 warriors
from the mighty of Israel.
⁸ All of them are skilled with swords
and trained in warfare.
Each has his sword at his side⁽ⁱ⁾
to guard against the terror of the night.^(j)

⁹ King Solomon made a sedan chair^[e] for himself
with wood from Lebanon.
¹⁰ He made its posts of silver,
its back^[f] of gold,
and its seat of purple.
Its interior is inlaid with love^[g]
by the young women of Jerusalem.^(k)
11 Come out, young women of Zion,^(l)
and gaze at King Solomon,
wearing the crown his mother placed on him
the day of his wedding^(m)—
the day of his heart's rejoicing.