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Young Woman

I slept, but my heart was awake,
    when I heard my lover knocking and calling:
“Open to me, my treasure, my darling,
    my dove, my perfect one.
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night.”

But I responded,
“I have taken off my robe.
    Should I get dressed again?
I have washed my feet.
    Should I get them soiled?”

My lover tried to unlatch the door,
    and my heart thrilled within me.
I jumped up to open the door for my love,
    and my hands dripped with perfume.
My fingers dripped with lovely myrrh
    as I pulled back the bolt.
I opened to my lover,
    but he was gone!
    My heart sank.
I searched for him
    but could not find him anywhere.
I called to him,
    but there was no reply.
The night watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds.
They beat and bruised me
    and stripped off my veil,
    those watchmen on the walls.

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The Bride

“I was asleep but my heart was awake.
A voice! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, (A)my sister, my darling,
(B)My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is [a]drenched with dew,
My (C)locks with the dew drops of the night.’
I have (D)taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I have (E)washed my feet,
How can I dirty them again?
My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
And my (F)feelings were stirred for him.
I arose to open to my beloved;
And my hands (G)dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with drops of myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had (H)turned away and had gone!
My [b]heart went out to him as he (I)spoke.
I (J)searched for him but I did not find him;
I (K)called him but he did not answer me.
The (L)watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
They struck me and wounded me;
The guards of the walls took my shawl away from me.

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 5:2 Lit filled
  2. Song of Solomon 5:6 Lit soul