¹ All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. ² I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. ³ The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. “Have you seen the one my heart loves?” ⁴ Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother`s house, to the room of the one who conceived me. <sup>5</sup> Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. <sup>6</sup> Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant? <sup>7</sup> Look! It is Solomon`s carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel, ⁸ all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night.