2
I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My beloved is knocking:
"Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night."
3
I have taken off my robe -
must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet -
must I soil them again?
4
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
5
I arose to open for my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
6
I opened for my beloved,
but my beloved had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure. 1
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
7
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those watchmen of the walls!
8
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you -
if you find my beloved,
what will you tell him?
Tell him I am faint with love.
9
How is your beloved better than others,
most beautiful of women?
How is your beloved better than others,
that you so charge us?