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! 1
The Maidens to The Beloved:
5:9 Why is your beloved better than others, 2
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 3 is dazzling 4 and ruddy; 5
he stands out 6 in comparison to 7 all other men. 8
5:11 His head is like the most pure gold. 9
His hair is curly 10 – black like a raven.
5:12 His eyes are like doves by streams of water,
washed in milk, mounted like jewels.
5:13 His cheeks are like garden beds full of balsam trees 11 yielding 12 perfume.
His lips are like lilies dripping with drops of myrrh.
5:14 His arms are like rods of gold set with chrysolite.
His abdomen 13 is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires.
5:15 His legs are like pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.
5:16 His mouth is very sweet; 14
he is totally desirable. 15
This is my beloved!
This is my companion, O maidens of Jerusalem!