3 1 The Church desireth to be joined inseparably to Christ her husband. 6 Her deliverance out of the wilderness.
1 In my bed by [a]night I sought him that my soul loved: I sought him, but I found him not.
2 I will rise therefore now, and go about in the city, by the streets, and by the open places, and will [b]seek him that my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The [c]watchmen that went about the city, found me: to whom I said, Have you seen him whom my soul loveth?
4 When I had passed a little from them, then I found him whom my soul loved: I took hold on him, and left him not, till I had brought him unto my mother’s house, into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 [d]I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor waken my love until she please.
6 Who is she that cometh up out of the [e]wilderness like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrh and incense, and with all the [f]spices of the merchant?
7 Behold his [g]bed, which is Solomon’s: threescore strong men are round about it, of the valiant men of Israel.
8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war, everyone hath his sword upon his thigh for the fear [h]by night.
9 King Solomon made himself a [i]palace of the trees of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, and the pavement thereof of gold, the hangings thereof of purple, whose midst was paved with the love of the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Come forth, ye [j]daughters of Zion, and behold the King Solomon with the [k]crown, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 3:1 The Church by night, that is, in troubles, seeketh to Christ, but is not incontinently heard.
- Song of Solomon 3:2 Showing that although we be not heard at the first, yet we must still continue in prayer, till we feel comfort.
- Song of Solomon 3:3 Which declareth that we must seek unto all of whom we hope to have any succor.
- Song of Solomon 3:5 Read Song 2:7.
- Song of Solomon 3:6 This is referred to the Church of Israel, which was led by the wilderness forty years.
- Song of Solomon 3:6 Hebrew, powder.
- Song of Solomon 3:7 By the bed is meant the Temple which Solomon made.
- Song of Solomon 3:8 He alludeth to the watch which kept the Temple.
- Song of Solomon 3:9 Or, chariot.
- Song of Solomon 3:11 All ye that are of the number of the faithful.
- Song of Solomon 3:11 Christ become man was crowned by the love of God with the glorious crown of his divinity.