Song 5
1
Let my kinsman come down into his garden, and eat the fruit of his choice berries.
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spices;
I have eaten my bread with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends,
and drink; yea, brethren, drink abundantly.
2
I sleep, but my heart is awake: the voice of my kinsman knocks at the door, saying,
Open, open to me, my companion, my sister, my dove, my perfect one: for my head is
filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
3
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I
defile them?
4
My kinsman put forth his hand by the hole of the door, and my belly moved for him.
5
I rose up to open to my kinsman; my hands dropped myrrh, my fingers choice myrrh,
on the handles of the lock.
6
I opened to my kinsman; my kinsman was gone: my soul Gr. went forth failed at his speech: I sought him, but found him not;
I called him, but he answered
me not.
7
The watchman that go their rounds in the city found me, they smote me, they wounded
me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8
I have charged you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the powers and the virtues of the
field: if you should find my kinsman, what are you to say to him? That I am wounded
with love.
9
What is your kinsman more than another kinsman, O you beautiful among women? what
is your kinsman more than another kinsman, that you have so charged us?
10
My kinsman is white and ruddy, chosen out from myriads.
11
His head is as very fine gold, his locks are flowing, black as a raven.
12
His eyes are as doves, by the pools of waters, washed with milk, sitting by the pools.
13
His cheeks are as bowls of spices pouring forth perfumes: his lips are lilies, dropping
choice myrrh.
14
His hands are as Or, gold rings turned gold set with q. d. from Tarshish beryl: his belly is an ivory tablet on a sapphire
stone.
15
His legs are marble pillars set on golden sockets: his form is as Libanus, choice
as the cedars.
16
His throat is most sweet, and altogether desirable. This is my kinsman, and this is
my companion, O daughters of Jerusalem.
17
Where is your kinsman gone, you beautiful among women? where has your kinsman Gr. looked aside turned aside? tell us, and
we will seek him with you.