I have come to my garden, my sister, O bride, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my sugar cane with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk; eat [my] friends, drink and become intoxicated, [my] beloved ones.

I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O dear ones, and drink; drink deep, O loving companions.

I came to My garden [(in the days of the investiture of the sanctuary, My sister, [My] bride. I gathered My myrrh with My spice [(the incense offered by the princes of the tribes)]. I ate [i.e., consumed] My honeycomb with My wine [(in My "overflowing" love for them)]. I have drunk My wine [(the libations)] with [i.e., which are sweeter and purer than] milk. Eat, [your portions, My] friends, [(Aaron and his sons, in the tent of meeting)]; drink deep, [My] loved ones, [(Israel, who ate the flesh of the peace-offering at the investiture of the Sanctuary)].

I slept but my heart was awake; a sound! My beloved knocks, open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfection, for my head is drenched [as though] with dew, my sidelocks drip with the rains of the night.

I sleep, but my heart wakes: hark, my beloved is knocking, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

I [(the Congregation of Israel, in the period of the first Temple)] was asleep [i.e., negligent in the service of the L-rd], but my "Heart" was awake [(to guard me and to confer good upon me)]. The voice of my Beloved knocks. [(He reposes His Shechinah on the prophets and exhorts me through them constantly;)] Open to Me, [(Do not cause Me to depart from you)] My sister, My love, My dove, My innocent one. For my head is filled with [the] dew [of blessings and reward, if you return to Me] — but My locks with the drops of night [i.e., punishments, if you spurn Me].

I have removed my robe, how can I put it on? I have washed my feet, how can I soil them?

I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I soil them?

[(Israel responds:)] I have taken off my cloak [(after my trysts with my other lovers, [viz. Jeremiah 44:18])]; how can I put it on [(to "open" for You)]? I have washed my feet; how can I sully them?

My beloved sent forth his hand from the portal, and my innards longed for him.

My beloved put in his hand by the latchet of the door, and my heart was thrilled for him.

My Beloved sent forth His hand from the opening [of the door], and my innards throbbed for Him [to return to Him].

I arose to open for my beloved; and my hands dripped myrrh, and my fingers flowed with myrrh from the handles of the lock.

I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with flowing myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

I arose to open for my Beloved, and my hands dripped myrrh, and my fingers, flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock [(in anticipation of greeting Him)].

I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had vanished and gone; my soul departed as he spoke, I sought him but could not find him, I called him but he would not answer.

I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had turned away, and was gone: my soul failed when he spoke: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

I opened for my Beloved — but my Beloved was hidden and gone from me. My soul went out at His word: ["I will not enter your house, for in the beginning you refused to open."] I called Him; but He did not answer me.

The watchmen found me, those who go about the city, they struck me, they wounded me; they stripped my ornament from me, [even] the guards of the walls.

The watchmen who went about the city found me, they struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

They found me, the watchers, who go about the city. They struck me. They wounded me. They divested me of my adornments, the watchers of the walls.

I bind you under oath, daughters of Yerusholayim; when you find my beloved, what will you tell him? that I am lovesick [for him.]

I charge you, O daughters of Yerushalayim, if you find my beloved, that you tell him, that I am sick with love.

I have besworn you, O daughters of Jerusalem [(the oppressing nations)]. If [in time to come] you find my Beloved, [summoning you for testimony on the day of judgment as to my deportment, [viz. Isaiah 43:9], what shall you tell Him? That I was sick with love for [for Him, i.e., that I suffered all kinds of afflictions for sanctification of the Name.]

With what does your beloved excel another beloved, most beautiful among women? With what does your beloved excel another beloved, that you bind us under oath?

What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

[(The nations ask Israel:)] How is your Beloved different [from other gods, that you expose yourselves to burning and crucifixion on His behalf?] How is your Beloved different from [any] beloved [god] that you have besworn us thus [to testify to your love for Him]?

My beloved is pure white and ruddy, surrounded by myriads.

My beloved is white and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.

My beloved is white and ruddy, distinguished among legions.

His head is [like] finest gold, his locks hang, they are raven-black.

His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are wavy, and black as a raven.

His head is [lustrous as] fine gold; his locks are waves, black as the raven.

His eyes are like doves upon brooks of water; bathed in milk, well set in their fullness.

His eyes are like doves by the water courses, washed with milk, and fitly set.

His eyes, [when he gazes] at the [sparkling] water-courses are as [beautiful as] those of doves, [(His eyes)] washed in milk, floating on [their] sockets.

His cheeks are like a bed of spice, like towers of perfumes; his lips are like roses, dripping [with] flowing myrrh.

His cheeks are like a bed of spices, like banks of fragrant flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping flowing myrrh.

His cheeks are like a bed of spices, perfumers' compounds. His lips are lilies, dripping flowing myrrh.

His hands are like rolls of gold studded with precious gems; his innards sparkle like ivory, overlaid with sapphires.

His hands are like rods of gold set with emeralds: his belly is polished ivory overlaid with sapphires.

His hands are wheels of gold, set with emeralds; His midst is polished ivory, adorned with sapphires.

His legs are like pillars of marble set in sockets of fine gold; his appearance is like Levanon chosen like the cedars.

His legs are pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is like the Levanon, excellent as the cedars.

His legs are pillars of marble, set in pedestals of fine gold. His stature is [tall,] as [the cedars of] the Levanon. He is distinctive [among the men] as the cedars [among the other trees.]

[The words of] his palate are sweet, and he is all delight; this is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Yerusholayim.

His mouth is most sweet: and he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Yerushalayim.

His palate is sweet [(i.e., His words are sweet)] and He is altogether desirable. This is my Beloved and this is my Love, O daughters of Jerusalem.