1 H e entrado en mi huerto, hermana mía, esposa mía; he recogido mi mirra con mi bálsamo. He comido mi panal y mi miel; he bebido mi vino y mi leche. Comed, amigos; bebed y embriagaos, oh amados. El tormento de la separación LA ESPOSA:

“ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.”

2 Y o dormía, pero mi corazón velaba, ¡Una voz! ¡Mi amado toca a la puerta! “Abreme, hermana mía, amada mía, paloma mía, perfecta mía, pues mi cabeza está empapada de rocío, mis cabellos empapados de la humedad de la noche.”

“ I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’

3 M e he quitado la ropa, ¿cómo he de vestirme de nuevo ? He lavado mis pies, ¿cómo los volveré a ensuciar?

“I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again ? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again ?

4 M i amado metió su mano por la abertura de la puerta, y se estremecieron por él mis entrañas.

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

5 Y o me levanté para abrir a mi amado; y mis manos destilaron mirra, y mis dedos mirra líquida, sobre los pestillos de la cerradura.

“I arose to open to my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the bolt.

6 A brí yo a mi amado, pero mi amado se había retirado, se había ido. Tras su hablar salió mi alma. Lo busqué, y no lo hallé; lo llamé, y no me respondió.

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

7 M e hallaron los guardas que rondan la ciudad, me golpearon y me hirieron; me quitaron de encima mi chal los guardas de las murallas.

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

8 Y o os conjuro, oh hijas de Jerusalén, si encontráis a mi amado, ¿qué le habéis de decir? Que estoy enferma de amor. EL CORO:

“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick.”

9 ¿ Qué clase de amado es tu amado, oh la más hermosa de las mujeres ? ¿Qué clase de amado es tu amado, que así nos conjuras? LA ESPOSA:

“ What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That thus you adjure us?” Admiration by the Bride

10 M i amado es resplandeciente y sonrosado, distinguido entre diez mil.

“ My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, Outstanding among ten thousand.

11 S u cabeza es como oro, oro puro, sus cabellos, como racimos de dátiles, negros como el cuervo.

“His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven.

12 S us ojos son como palomas junto a corrientes de agua, bañados en leche, colocados en su engaste.

“His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And reposed in their setting.

13 S us mejillas, como eras de bálsamo, como riberas de hierbas aromáticas; sus labios son lirios que destilan mirra líquida.

“His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet-scented herbs; His lips are lilies Dripping with liquid myrrh.

14 S us manos, barras de oro engastadas de berilo; su vientre, marfil tallado recubierto de zafiros.

“His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.

15 S us piernas, columnas de alabastro asentadas sobre basas de oro puro; su aspecto, como el Líbano, gallardo como los cedros.

“His legs are pillars of alabaster Set on pedestals of pure gold; His appearance is like Lebanon Choice as the cedars.

16 S u paladar, dulcísimo, y todo él, deseable. Este es mi amado y éste es mi amigo, hijas de Jerusalén.

“His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”