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The Woman Dreams

I sleep, but my ·heart [mind] ·is awake [was alert].
    ·I hear [L The sound of] my lover knocking.
“Open to me, my sister [4:9; C he desires physical intimacy], my darling,
    my dove, my ·perfect [flawless] one.
My head is ·wet with [L full of] dew,
    and my hair with the ·dampness [drizzle] of the night.”
I have taken off my ·garment [clothes]
    ·and don’t want to put it on [L should I get dressed…?] again.
I have washed my feet
    ·and don’t want to get [L should I get…?] them dirty again.
My lover put his hand through the ·opening [L hole],
    and I felt ·excited inside [aroused; warmed].
I got up to open the door for my lover.
    Myrrh was dripping from my hands
and liquid myrrh [4:14] was flowing from my fingers,
    onto the handles of the lock.
I opened the door for my lover,
    but my lover had left and was gone.
    When he spoke, ·he took my breath away [L my spirit went out].
I ·looked for [sought] him, but I could not find him;
    I called for him, but he did not answer.
The ·watchmen [guards; C an ancient equivalent to police; 3:3] found me
    ·as they patrolled [those who make their rounds in] the city.
They hit me and ·hurt [bruised] me;
    the guards ·on the wall took away my veil [L lifted my garments from me].

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(The Shulammite Bride)


“I was asleep, but my heart was awake.
A voice [in my dream]! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is drenched with the [heavy night] dew;
My hair [is covered] with the dampness of the night.’(A)

“I had taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I had washed my feet,
How could I get them dirty again?(B)

“My beloved extended his hand through the opening [of the door],
And my feelings were aroused for him.

“I arose to open for my beloved;
And my hands dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with liquid [sweet-scented] myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.

“I opened for my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and was gone.
My heart went out to him when he spoke.
I searched for him, but I could not find him;
I called him, but he did not answer me.

“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me.
They struck me, they wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took my shawl from me.

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