> [[song-of-songs-02|← Previous]] | [[song-of-songs-00|TOC]] | [[song-of-songs-04|Next →]] --- # Song of Songs, Chapter 3 ## Chapter 3 ### Loss and Discovery 1 W On my bed at night I sought him ^song-of-songs-03-1 whom my soul loves— I sought him but I did not find him. 2 “Let me rise then and go about the city, ^song-of-songs-03-2 through the streets and squares; Let me seek him whom my soul loves.” I sought him but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen found me, ^song-of-songs-03-3 as they made their rounds in the city: “Him whom my soul loves—have you seen him?” 4 Hardly had I left them ^song-of-songs-03-4 when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of her who conceived me. 5 I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, ^song-of-songs-03-5 by the gazelles and the does of the field, Do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready. ### Solomon’s Wedding Procession 6 D Who is this coming up from the desert, ^song-of-songs-03-6 like columns of smoke Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all kinds of exotic powders? 7 See! it is the litter of Solomon; ^song-of-songs-03-7 sixty valiant men surround it, of the valiant men of Israel: 8 All of them expert with the sword, ^song-of-songs-03-8 skilled in battle, Each with his sword at his side against the terrors of the night. 9 King Solomon made himself an enclosed litter ^song-of-songs-03-9 of wood from Lebanon. 10 He made its columns of silver, ^song-of-songs-03-10 its roof of gold, Its seat of purple cloth, its interior lovingly fitted. Daughters of Jerusalem, 11 go out ^song-of-songs-03-11 and look upon King Solomon In the crown with which his mother has crowned him on the day of his marriage, on the day of the joy of his heart. \* (3:1] – [5) See the parallel in [5:2] – [8]. \* (3:2) The motif of seeking/finding here and elsewhere is used by later Christian and Jewish mystics to speak of the soul’s search for the divine. \* (3:4) Whom my soul loves: the fourfold repetition of this phrase in vv. [1] – [4] highlights the depth of the woman’s emotion and desire. Mother’s house: cf. [8:2]; a place of safety and intimacy, one which implicitly signifies approval of the lovers’ relationship. \* (3:6] – [11) This may be an independent poem. In context it portrays the lover as King Solomon, escorted by sixty armed men, coming in royal procession to meet a bride. \* (3:8) Terrors: cf. [Ps 91:5]; perhaps bandits lying in wait, unidentified dangers lurking in darkness. \* (3:10) Lovingly fitted: translation uncertain. The phrase “Daughters of Jerusalem” is read here with the following verse. a. (3:1] – [5) [Sg 5:2] – [8]. b. (3:4) [Sg 8:2]. c. (3:5) [Sg 2:7]; [8:4]. d. (3:6) [Sg 6:10]; [8:5]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[song-of-songs-02|← Previous]] | [[song-of-songs-00|TOC]] | [[song-of-songs-04|Next →]]