The Lover to His Beloved:
5:1 I have entered my garden, O my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk!
The Poet to the Couple: 1
Eat, friends, and drink! 2
Drink freely, O lovers!
The Beloved about Her Lover:
5:2 I was asleep, but my mind 3 was dreaming. 4
Listen! 5 My lover 6 is knocking 7 at the door! 8
The Lover to His Beloved:
“Open 9 for me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one!
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.”
The Beloved to Her Lover:
5:3 “I have already taken off my robe – must I put it on again?
I have already washed my feet – must I soil them again?”
5:4 My lover thrust his hand 10 through 11 the hole, 12
and my feelings 13 were stirred 14 for him.
5:5 I arose to open for my beloved;
my hands dripped with myrrh –
my fingers flowed with myrrh
on the handles of the lock.
5:6 I opened for my beloved,
but my lover had already turned 15 and gone away. 16
I fell into despair 17 when he departed. 18
I looked for him but did not find him;
I called him but he did not answer me.
5:7 The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak, those watchmen on the walls!
The Beloved to the Maidens:
5:8 O maidens of Jerusalem, I command you –
If you find my beloved, what will you tell him?
Tell him that I am lovesick! 19
The Maidens to The Beloved:
5:9 Why is your beloved better than others, 20
O most beautiful of women?
Why is your beloved better than others,
that you would command us in this manner?
The Beloved to the Maidens:
5:10 My beloved 21 is dazzling 22 and ruddy; 23
he stands out 24 in comparison to 25 all other men. 26
5:11 His head is like the most pure gold. 27
His hair is curly 28 – black like a raven.