1. I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.
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. 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?