Read the Bible

¹ I have entered my garden, my treasure,^[a] my bride!
    I gather myrrh with my spices
and eat honeycomb with my honey.
    I drink wine with my milk.

Oh, lover and beloved, eat and drink!
    Yes, drink deeply of your love!

² I slept, but my heart was awake,
    when I heard my lover knocking and calling:
"Open to me, my treasure, my darling,
    my dove, my perfect one.
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night."

³ But I responded,
"I have taken off my robe.
    Should I get dressed again?
I have washed my feet.
    Should I get them soiled?"

⁴ My lover tried to unlatch the door,
    and my heart thrilled within me.
⁵ I jumped up to open the door for my love,
    and my hands dripped with perfume.
My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh
    as I pulled back the bolt.
⁶ I opened to my lover,
    but he was gone!
    My heart sank.
I searched for him
    but could not find him anywhere.
I called to him,
    but there was no reply.
⁷ The night watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds.
They beat and bruised me
    and stripped off my veil,
    those watchmen on the walls.

⁸ Make this promise, O women of Jerusalem—
    If you find my lover,
    tell him I am weak with love.

⁹ Why is your lover better than all others,
    O woman of rare beauty?
What makes your lover so special
    that we must promise this?

¹⁰ My lover is dark and dazzling,
    better than ten thousand others!
¹¹ His head is finest gold,
    his wavy hair is black as a raven.
¹² His eyes sparkle like doves
    beside springs of water;
they are set like jewels
    washed in milk.
¹³ His cheeks are like gardens of spices
    giving off fragrance.
His lips are like lilies,
    perfumed with myrrh.
¹⁴ His arms are like rounded bars of gold,
    set with beryl.
His body is like bright ivory,
    glowing with lapis lazuli.
¹⁵ His legs are like marble pillars
    set in sockets of finest gold.
His posture is stately,
    like the noble cedars of Lebanon.
¹⁶ His mouth is sweetness itself;
    he is desirable in every way.
Such, O women of Jerusalem,
    is my lover, my friend.