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I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem,
    If you find my beloved,
    that you tell him that I am faint with love.

Friends

How is your beloved better than another beloved,
    you fairest among women?
How is your beloved better than another beloved,
that you do so adjure us?

Beloved

10 My beloved is white and ruddy.
    The best among ten thousand.
11 His head is like the purest gold.
    His hair is bushy, black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks,
    washed with milk, mounted like jewels.
13 His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes.
    His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.
14 His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl.
    His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
15 His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold.
    His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16 His mouth is sweetness;
    yes, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend,
    daughters of Jerusalem.

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I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
    if you find my beloved,
tell him this:
    I am faint with love.(A)

Colloquy of Friends and the Young Woman

What is your beloved more than another beloved,
    O fairest among women?
What is your beloved more than another beloved,
    that you thus charge us?(B)

10 My beloved is all radiant and ruddy,
    distinguished among ten thousand.
11 His head is the finest gold;
    his locks are wavy,
    black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves
    beside springs of water,
bathed in milk,
    fitly set.[a](C)
13 His cheeks are like beds of spices,
    yielding fragrance.
His lips are lilies,
    dripping liquid myrrh.(D)
14 His arms are rounded gold,
    set with jewels.
His body is an ivory panel,[b]
    decorated with sapphires.
15 His legs are alabaster columns,
    set upon bases of gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
    choice as the cedars.
16 His speech is most sweet,
    and he is altogether desirable.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend,
    O daughters of Jerusalem.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 5.12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 5.14 Meaning of Heb uncertain